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Runaway Texas Democrats safe in Illinois, Gov. Pritzker says
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Aug 7, 2025
Gov. JB Pritzker appeared on Stephen Colbert's show and said that all Texas Democrats who left the state and came to Illinois are safe.
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says he's, quote, preserving democracy by harboring Texas Democrats
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who fled their state to block a vote on a contentious congressional redistricting plan
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The Texas Democrats are protesting a plan to add as many as five new Republican congressional
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districts, enough to ensure the GOP keeps the majority in the House of Representatives
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after the 2026 midterms. Pritzker spoke about the Texas controversy while appearing on the
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Late show with Stephen Colbert. Well, Donald Trump's trying to steal five seats from the people
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frankly, of the country, not just the people of Texas and disenfranchised people. We're talking
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about, you know, violating the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. So the great heroes of the
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Texas House Democratic Caucus decided the only thing they could do in order to stop it was leave
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Texas. And where did they decide to come to? The safe haven of the state of Illinois, where we're
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going to protect them and take care of them. Colbert asked Pritzker whether Illinois might also redraw its congressional map to squeeze out Republicans as some other Democratic states are threatening to do It possible And I said everything on the table I mean look we got to fight
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fire with fire. They've frankly tossed the rule book out. And they're just acting in
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an unconstitutional fashion. And what we're going to have to do is whatever it takes to
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preserve democracy. And Colbert poked fun at the current Illinois districts. If you're considering doing a little more redrawing in Illinois
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you already have some crazy districts in Illinois. Take a look at this. Look at 17 here
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It does that. Then it comes up here and it sneaks around there
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and goes all the way up here and then goes right over there like that
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And look at this one. It kind of goes whoop up there. It's like the stinger on a scorpion down here
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Is this common for all states to do? Pritzker, a billionaire who plans
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to seek a third term next year has been mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential candidate
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in 2028. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan. If you want more on this story
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download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com
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