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Forget pulling rabbits out of hats — Illinois Democrats have mastered an even slicker illusion: turning slim majorities into political monopolies through the art of extreme gerrymandering. With a pen and a set of voter data, they stretch, twist, and contort districts into Rorschach test shapes — all to make sure their party wins far more seats than the people’s vote would ever give them honestly.
Here’s the magic formula: Even when Democrats only get around 55% of the statewide vote, they regularly walk away with more than two-thirds of the seats in Springfield. How? By drawing “tentacle districts” snaking deep into rural or suburban Republican areas, just far enough to scoop up enough Democratic voters to tip the scales. It’s political cartography that would make Salvador Dalí blush. But first a word from our sponsor:
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Visual Example: Illinois’ 13th Congressional District — The Tentacle Trick
One of the most infamous examples is Illinois' 13th Congressional District. This sprawling district connects urban Democratic strongholds like Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, Decatur, and parts of Metro East near St. Louis by twisting narrow corridors across central and southern Illinois. It covers multiple counties including Champaign, Macon, Madison, Piatt, Sangamon, and St. Clair. Instead of representing one compact community, IL-13 sprawls over nearly 2,300 square miles with bizarre, disconnected shapes aimed at packing Democratic voters together.
This “tentacle” design allows Democrats to concentrate their base in one district, turning what could be several competitive districts into a single safe Democratic seat — effectively gerrymandering Republicans out of fair contention across the region.
Diagram: What the 13th District Map Reveals
A long, irregular shape, stretching across various counties and cities.
Links disconnected Democratic-leaning urban pockets via narrow twisting land corridors.
Splits communities and counties unnaturally to aggregate Democratic voters.
Creates a politically safe seat that doesn’t follow natural geography or compactness standards.
This is the kind of map that makes Illinois Democrats’ grip on power nearly unbreakable — and leaves many voters feeling like their voices don’t matter.
Hypocrisy at Its Finest
Meanwhile, Illinois Democrats wag their fingers and declare Texas Republicans villains for similar map maneuvers — accusing them of “threatening democracy.” But Illinois runs the same playbook — and with Democrats owning the pen and veto power, they’ve perfected the tactic over decades. You can’t claim moral outrage when your own house is a fortress built on sketchy lines.
Why It Matters (Spoiler: Your Vote Counts Less)
When lines are drawn to rig outcomes, elections cease to be fair contests. Instead, they become predetermined performances where the party in power wins regardless of voter sentiment — meaning fewer competitive races, less accountability, and elected officials who don’t have to earn your vote.
Grassroots groups urge Illinois to adopt an independent redistricting commission to prevent lawmakers from picking their voters. But Democrats refuse to give up their map-drawing monopoly, ensuring the machinery of power keeps humming their way.
The Pot Calling the Kettle Gerrymandered
So next time you hear Democrats rant about Texas map “cheating,” remind them Illinois is one of the most egregiously gerrymandered states, thanks to their own party. It’s less about protecting democracy, more about protecting their seats — and it's happening right under Chicago's skyline.
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