Carbondale Reporter

Paul Jacobs, Illinois State Representative for District 118, has expressed concerns regarding the current legislative maps. In a Facebook post on February 5, he said, "Democrats have used the maps as a way to take control away from voters." He emphasized that Illinoisans deserve a "real voice in their state government."

"The current legislative maps in Illinois are so partisan that they've been described as an "insurance policy for House Democrats," said Jacobs, according to Facebook. "Democrats have used the maps as a way to take control away from voters by drawing districts where they will face no competition. We believe Illinoisans deserve a real voice in their state government so we've filed a lawsuit against these rigged maps."

According to the Facebook post, it directs readers to a video about the Redo Remap effort, which aims to have the current legislative maps declared unconstitutional. In the video, Representative Ryan Spain explains the issues involved in the lawsuit. He says, "When politicians pick their voters, that’s called gerrymandering," a practice he attributes to Democratic leaders seeking to maintain power. Spain argues that the current House District maps violate the Illinois State Constitution because they are neither contiguous nor compact and elections are not free and equal. He also claims Democrats punish Republicans when their vote share increases.

Screenshot of State Representative Paul Jacobs' Feb. 5 Facebook post | State Representative Paul Jacobs' Facebook page

The lawsuit was filed by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie and five registered voters against the Illinois State Board of Elections and individual board members. It alleges that extreme gerrymandering has been employed to preserve Democratic control and prevent Republican voters from electing their preferred candidates. The plaintiffs argue this partisan gerrymandering is unconstitutional. The lawsuit references 2021 House Resolution 443, which admitted that House District 26 was redrawn "for political purposes" without adjustment after public feedback. The plaintiffs seek a declaration of unconstitutionality for the current maps and request appointing a Special Map Master to create constitutionally acceptable maps.

Jacobs was first elected to represent Illinois' 115th District in 2020 but was moved to the 118th District due to redistricting. Before his legislative career, he worked as an optometrist and owned Von Jakob Vineyard in Alto Pass. Jacobs served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1971 and has four grown children and ten grandchildren with his wife.