Court postpones congressional candidate filing deadling in Illinois
November 23, 2011
By: Greg Janetka
CHICAGO, Illinois: Due to a pending lawsuit challenging the new Illinois congressional map, U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow on Tuesday pushed back the filing deadline for candidates wishing to run for U.S. House next year.
The new filing period will run from December 23-27, replacing the original period which was slated to begin Monday. The November 28 - December 5 filing period will still apply to candidates for state legislature, judicial positions and county offices.[1]
The lawsuit in question was brought by Republicans who argue that the new map, drawn by the Democratic majority, is unconstitutional as it is politically gerrymandered and dilutes the votes of Latinos. Court hearings were held November 17-18. As evidence that Democrats used the process for political gain, Republicans produced emails between the state and national Democratic party organizations. GOP lawyers specifically pointed to emails from Ian Russell of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to Andrew Manar, a top aide to state Senate President John Cullerton (D), wherein Russell cites a mutual goal of increasing Democratic pick ups and redrawing downstate districts to help Democrats.[2]
If the case is not resolved by December 21, the filing deadline will be pushed back once again.[3]
See also
- Redistricting in Illinois
- Redistricting lawsuits relating to the 2010 Census
- Signature requirements and deadlines for 2012 state legislative elections
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Footnotes
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Judge postpones U.S. House filing deadline," November 23, 2011
- ↑ Chicago Sun Times, "Democratic memo reveals plan to "destabilize" Illinois House Republicans ," November 16, 2011
- ↑ The Republic, "Federal court moves candidate filing while deciding lawsuit challenging congressional remap," November 22, 2011
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