KRISTEN WELKER: I do want to look at the map of Illinois. Let's take a look at this: despite President Trump winning 44% of the statewide vote in 2024, Republicans hold only three of Illinois's 17 districts. These districts seem to be to maximize Democratic advantage. What do you say to those who argue that it's hypocritical for you to criticize Texas for partisanship when your state also drew maps to boost your party's standing?
JB PRITZKER: Well, remember that what Texas is trying to do is, again, violate the Voting Rights Act. We didn't. We held public hearings, legislative hearings. People attended them. They spoke out. There was a map that was put out. There were actually changes made to the map and a map was passed, and it was done at the end of the census, the decennial census, so that's how it's done in this country. You talked about rare it is to do what he's doing. Yes, it is. What’s even rarer is to do it at the behest of the President of the United States who is clearly attempting to, and says, that he deserves to have five more seats. He's wrong and he's attempting to change the game because, again, he passed this big, ugly bill. It's hyper unpopular in Texas, among people in Texas and across the country, and he knows he's going to lose the Congress in 2026. That's why he's going to his allies and hoping that they can save him, and we've all got to stand up against this. This is- it's cheating. Donald Trump is a cheater. He cheats on his wives. He cheats at golf, and now he's trying to cheat the American people out of their votes.
WELKER: Well, look, sticking on your state's map, every major group that grades the fairness of congressional maps gives your state an F. Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog, even says your map, and I'm going to quote: “represents a nearly perfect model for everything that can go wrong with redistricting.” And I guess the question is: you talk about preserving democracy. How do you preserve democracy if you're using the same tactics that you’ve criticized Texas Republicans for?
PRITZKER: But as I say, what they're talking about is a distraction. The reality is that the violation of people's voting rights is what Texas is attempting to do. That's what's wrong with their efforts right now and the fact that the President of the United States knows it and, nevertheless, is asking them to do it. That is what's wrong with what we're seeing right now. Democracy is at stake and these Texas Democrats are standing up to what the GOP is attempting to do which is to -- to steal seats because they know what they've done is wrong. They know that they've made an enormous mistake.
WELKER: Let's turn now to foreign policy, Governor and the crisis in Gaza.
. steve malzberg
. steve malzberg
