A group of wealthy and influential Illinoisans are trying to change a fundamental part of state politics that isn't often talked about.
You know how your home might be in one legislative district, but your neighbors across the street might be in another? The current map-drawing system favors the political party that’s running state government after a census. A group called Independent Maps wants to change that.
Dennis FitzSimons used to run the Tribune Company. Now, he's heading Independent Maps because he says the process is not fair.
“Our aim is to have our state’s redistricting process produce Illinois House and Senate districts drawn without regard to partisanship or incumbency.”
FitzSimons has to change Illinois’ constitution to create a new system - one that lets a non-partisan committee draw legislative maps. But previous efforts to change this process stalled - after running into constitutional challenges.