Proposed Congressional Map Would Split Jo Daviess County

The latest congressional redistricting proposal released by the Democratic majority in the Illinois Legislature would split Jo Daviess County between two districts. The map is the second one put forward by the majority party in the ongoing redistricting process following the 2020 census. The first was deemed unconstitutional by a panel of three federal judges in Chicago, as it used pre-census population estimates and unbalanced population counts between districts. The District is represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, who will not run for reelection in 2022. In the new proposal, western Jo Daviess County — including East Dubuque, Galena and Hanover — would remain in the 17th District plus retain the cities of Freeport and Rockford. In its southern reaches, the 17th District would grow eastward to cover Bloomington. State legislators are scheduled to meet in Springfield today and Wednesday to consider the maps.