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Fact check: What were the key changes in the last Illinois districting.

Checked on August 7, 2025

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the sources offer limited specific details about the key changes in Illinois's last redistricting process. However, several important facts emerge:

Illinois redrew its congressional map following the 2020 Census, with sources indicating this occurred in either 2021 [1] or 2022 [2]. The redistricting resulted in Democrats controlling 14 of Illinois's 17 congressional seats, with Republicans holding only 3 seats [3] [4] [1] [2].

Illinois is considered "the most gerrymandered state in the union" according to one analysis [4], and the redistricting process faced significant criticism from Republican lawmakers [1]. The gerrymandering debate has been characterized as a long-standing issue in Illinois politics [2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important contextual elements missing from a complete understanding of Illinois redistricting:

  • Historical perspective: The sources indicate that gerrymandering has been a persistent issue in Illinois politics beyond just the most recent redistricting cycle [2]
  • National redistricting context: Illinois's redistricting occurred within a broader national pattern where multiple states are engaging in mid-decade redistricting efforts, including Texas, California, Indiana, and Missouri [5] [3]
  • Comparative gerrymandering: While Illinois is labeled as highly gerrymandered, other states like Texas are simultaneously pursuing aggressive redistricting strategies that could give Republicans five additional congressional seats [5] [3]
  • Legal and procedural context: The sources mention that the Supreme Court is set to hear a case on Louisiana's congressional map that could have significant implications for the Voting Rights Act, suggesting broader legal challenges to redistricting practices nationwide [3]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward request for factual information. However, the sources provided do not contain sufficient detail to fully answer the question about specific changes made during Illinois's last redistricting process.

The analyses suggest potential bias in how redistricting is discussed more broadly, with Democratic-controlled redistricting in Illinois being criticized as gerrymandering [4] [2], while similar Republican efforts in states like Texas are presented in comparable terms [5] [3]. This indicates that both major political parties benefit from redistricting when they control the process, and accusations of gerrymandering appear to be applied across party lines depending on who holds power in each state.

Want to dive deeper?
What were the main goals of the Illinois redistricting commission in 2021?
How did the new Illinois district maps affect the state's congressional representation?
Which Illinois districts were most impacted by the 2021 redistricting changes?
What role did partisan gerrymandering play in the Illinois redistricting process?
How do the new Illinois district boundaries affect voting demographics?