Preston Praises Pause on Illinois Redistricting, Calls Move a Win for Black Political Power (Springfield, IL) – State Sen. Willie Preston (D-Chicago), chair of the Illinois Senate Black Legislative Caucus, applauded Democratic leaders’ decision to pause mid-decade redistricting efforts this week, calling the move a vital step in protecting Black political representation in Illinois.
The decision came during the final days of the General Assembly’s veto session, following meetings between House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Illinois Democratic leaders. The discussions centered on concerns that revising congressional boundaries now could undermine long-standing Black-majority districts in the state.
“Pushing ‘pause’ on new Congressional maps here in Illinois was the right thing to do,” Preston said in a statement. “Defending Black political power is essential to the Democratic Party, the party of Civil Rights and Voting Rights.”
Preston, who has been a vocal opponent of proposals to redraw Illinois’ congressional districts mid-decade, framed the pause as a stand against what he described as national efforts by President Donald Trump and Republican-led states to weaken minority representation through gerrymandering.
“We cannot respond to the facially racist efforts of the Republican Party to rig the 2026 midterms by doing anything that furthers their long-term goals of wiping Black representation off the map,” Preston said. “I look forward to supporting any map that does not dilute the 1st, 2nd or 7th Congressional Districts.”
The pause effectively delays any changes to Illinois’ congressional boundaries, which currently include several majority-Black districts anchored in Chicago’s South and West sides.
Preston, a former janitor, butcher, and union carpenter turned lawmaker, has made defending political equity and working-class representation a central theme of his tenure. A father of six and graduate of Chicago State and Roosevelt Universities, he represents Illinois’ 16th Senate District.
More information about Sen. Preston and his work can be found at electpreston.com.
Preston Praises Pause on Illinois Redistricting, Calls Move a Win for Black Political Power
