Chambana Sun

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Sullivan) reacted to Illinois aiming for an early primary. 

The Illinois Democratic Party is lobbying for the state to play a bigger role in the primary process, with an earlier primary election. 

This is concerning for some elected officials such as Halbrook.

"The state with the worst gerrymandered map in the United States of America now wants to have an early influence on national elections and take over the Democrat Party," Halbrook said on Facebook on Tuesday. "[Gov. J.B.] Pritzker (D-Ill.) and company's mobster-style bullying tactics are ramping up as the 2022 and 2024 elections approach. Besides the totally unfair congressional map Democrats have already enforced, they are vying for Illinois to become the epicenter of national control by pushing for early elections and raising TON$ of dough. This is how you steal control when you can't win on ideas." 

Other officials had a more measured response.

“Illinois represents a true test of what presidential candidates will face across the nation,” Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Chicago), the chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, wrote to Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, according to WTTW.

Political analysts are unsure of how this could impact Democrats' electoral prospects.

"Illinois’ aggressive gerrymander is a big part of the reason Democrats have gained seats from redistricting nationwide this year," a report from FiveThirtyEight said. "But, it could also backfire. In order to draw so many blue seats, Democrats had to spread their voters thin, leaving some districts with only a small Democratic lean. If Republicans have a strong 2022 election, they could end up winning not only their three safely red seats but also those light-blue seats. This gerrymander could end up being the biggest blunder in Illinois since Mrs. O'Leary's cow knocked over that lantern."

The news was released while Illinois prepared for an evening with Pres. Joe Biden. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Pritzker and Illinois Democrats hosted a fundraising reception with the president in attendance last Wednesday. Tickets sold for as high as $365,000.