Redistricting

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) has signed into law the state's controversial map of newly reapportioned congressional districts.

Republicans have criticized the map, which pits several GOP lawmakers against one another, announced they will sue.

Democrats control the redistricting process in the state, which is losing one House seat next year, and the map they drew is seen as benefiting their party.

They could pick up five or six seats if the map stands, which would help them recover from the four seats Republicans gained in President Obama's home state last cycle.

Quinn defended the map Friday.

“I have carefully reviewed the congressional redistricting map. This map is fair, maintains competitiveness within congressional districts, and protects the voting rights of minority communities," he said in a signing statement.

Republicans reiterated their argument the map is partisan.

"This bill is a crass, partisan political move to silence the voices of Illinoisans, who last November made it very clear that they wanted to fire Nancy Pelosi by electing a majority Republican Congressional Delegation from the home state of President Obama," Republican state party Chairman Pat Brady said in a statement.

“I hope that the courts will overturn these maps as an unfair representation of the citizens of Illinois.”

The Illinois Republican delegation put out a statement Friday blasting Quinn and announcing there will be a lawsuit.

The members say Quinn "rewarded his Democrat allies by approving this highly partisan map that tears apart communities and disrespects the will of Illinois voters as expressed in last fall’s election."

They added that: “this map will be challenged in court, and we do not expect to comment further on a matter that now will be the subject of litigation.  As we have said before, we do not believe this map will stand.”

Most of the lawmakers, many of whom have been put in primaries against one another, have avoided stating where they'll run next cycle. The statement indicates they will continue to stay silent on the 2012 race.

Ten out of 11 GOP members of the delegation signed the statement. Rep. Timothy Johnson's name was missing.

Johnson's office released a statement Friday, criticizing the proposed map but not mentioning why the lawmaker didn't sign on to the joint statement.

“While I believe the lawsuit has a reasonable chance of success, I also believe that the coming months provide an opportunity for me to get acquainted with the people, the communities and the issues that are part of the new 13th District that the Democrats have drawn me in to. I welcome the opportunity to represent the good people of west-central Illinois. I have been warmly received everywhere I’ve been and I hope to represent them with the same energy and integrity that I’ve demonstrated throughout my career," Johnson said.

-- This post was last updated at 5:07 p.m.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett says a redistricting proposal that eliminates his district is "part of the plan" for the Texas GOP.

Dems could pick up four or five seats; Some lawmakers escape primaries with fellow incumbents.

Illinois Democrats released their congressional redistricting map Friday that spells bad news for three House Republicans.

The state is losing one House seat — with Democrats in control of the redistricting process, the party sees a chance to win back some of the seats lost in the 2010 election.

It's three suburban Chicago lawmakers who took the toughest hits.

Freshman GOP Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Robert Dold, along with veteran lawmaker Judy Biggert, would face Democratic incumbents under the plan, according to The Associated Press.

Kinzinger will face veteran Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.; Biggert, a seven-term lawmaker, would face two-term Democrat Rep. Mike Quigley, and Dold will face longtime Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

Republicans won four House seats in President Obama's home state last year, and the proposed-map would give Democrats a shot at regaining some of those districts.

State Democrats are trying to get the plan approved before the May 31, when the legislative session is scheduled to end.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) blasted the plan, saying the proposed map "is the unfortunate result of cynical partisans who want to override the decision of Illinois voters."

All the Republican members of the Illinois delegation signed into a statement Friday, blasting the draft plan.

"This proposal appears to be little more than an attempt to undo the results of the elections held just six months ago and we will take whatever steps necessary to achieve a map that more fairly represents the people of Illinois – they deserve nothing less," the lawmakers said.

-- This post was updated at 3:44 p.m.

Lawmakers in Missouri's state House have voted to override a gubernatorial veto of a redistricting plan approved by the legislature late last month. 

The successful override vote in the House all but guarantees the new congressional map, which Missouri Democrats have slammed as unfairly partisan, will become law.

It's now up to the Missouri state Senate to hold an override vote, and Republicans have more than enough votes in that chamber to override Gov. Jay Nixon's (D) veto. The veto is likely to take place by Wednesday afternoon. 

Kucinich's office isn't squashing speculation about the move, saying 20 states have asked him to run in their area.

State lawmakers in Missouri have approved a new congressional map, but Gov. Jay Nixon (D) is under pressure from fellow Democrats to veto the plan.

The Democratic Caucus in the state House sent a letter to Nixon after the plan was approved Wednesday, arguing it stacks the deck against Democrats and that it deserves a gubernatorial veto.

The new map eliminates Rep. Russ Carnahan's (D) district and places the entire city of St. Louis into the district of Rep. Lacy Clay (D). Both Democrats have denounced the plan.

In passing the bill Wednesday, the Republican-led legislature has enough time to override a Nixon veto before the end of the legislative session on May 13. But it's unclear whether Republicans have the votes to do it.

The close of the campaign fundraising quarter reveals early signs of strength for some members up for reelection.

Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) announced Friday that he will move to Iowa's 3rd Congressional District ahead of next year and take on eight-term incumbent Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) rather than face a primary with fellow Republican Rep. Steve King.

Latham's decision comes after state lawmakers in Iowa approved a new map Thursday that puts Latham and King in the same congressional district for 2012. The two Republicans were anxious to avoid a primary fight in 2012, and the party sees a Latham-Boswell race as winnable for the GOP. 

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad announced Friday that he will sign the redistricting plan into law. 

"I have never let map boundaries block the great honor I have felt in representing the interests of all Iowans in the United States Congress," Latham said in a statement Friday.

Boswell, meanwhile, told The Ballot Box earlier this week that he's ready for a matchup with Latham, promising the Republican a tough race.

"I live in Polk County, in the capital city," Boswell said. "That's my base, and whatever gets attached to it, so be it. But I'm not going anywhere."

The longtime Democrat, who survived a contested race in 2010, said he's been conditioned to expect a tough battle every year, adding that his new district will have "half the counties I've served before anyway."

The National Republican Congressional Committee praised Latham in a statement Friday as "a proven conservative leader" and pledged support in his race against Boswell. 

“The NRCC is committed to re-electing every House Republican Member through our Patriot Program, which empowers House Republicans with the strategies and resources to stay on offense against Nancy Pelosi’s House Democrats," NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) said in a statement. "We look forward to supporting Tom Latham as he takes on a new opportunity for Republican victory in 2012.”

Latham's decision leaves the new 4th District to King for 2012.

"Having represented nearly half of the new Fourth District since 2002, I look forward to continuing to represent the interests of northwest Iowa in Congress, and I am looking forward to building new relationships in new communities across north central Iowa," King said in a statement Friday.

Of Latham, he said, "I am pleased that the residents of the southern part of my current district will have the opportunity to choose Tom Latham as their representative in Congress.

-Updated at 12:35 p.m.

Rep. Leonard Boswell could face a general-election match with GOP Rep. Tom Latham under a new redistricting map.