Democrat Redistricting Push Hits Brick Wall In Blue State

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has hit a brick wall in his effort to persuade Illinois Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional map, meeting stiff resistance within his own party, Capitol News Illinois reported Wednesday.

Jeffries has been quietly urging leaders in solid-blue states to consider new maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, hoping to counter a wave of Trump-backed GOP redistricting moves in states like Texas, North Carolina and Missouri. In Illinois, however, some Democrats have rejected the idea, according to Capitol News Illinois.

“I think there is next to zero appetite to do it,” one Democratic state House lawmaker told the outlet, while another lawmaker said, “There is no world where I see this happening.”

Jeffries made a last-minute push to add redistricting to the agenda before lawmakers adjourn their fall session next week, according to Punchbowl News. However, with the candidate petition filing deadline for the March primary approaching on Nov. 3, lawmakers would need to either delay the primary or rewrite ballot rules, the outlet reported.

Another roadblock is opposition from the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which worries a new map could dilute minority voting power by spreading Black voters across more districts.

“We’re going to fight back,” Democrat state Sen. Willie Preston told Punchbowl News on Wednesday. “We just won’t do so at the expense of our own power.”

Jeffries’ office did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation