Seth Lewis, Republican candidate for Illinois state Senate in District 23, vowed to continue the fight after the state Supreme Court ruling blocked the Independent Maps Amendment from the November ballot last week.
“This is just another example of how Illinois’ political system is rigged against the people by career politicians like [state House Speaker] Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), who sue to stop good government reforms like fair maps and term limits," Lewis said. “I am disappointed in today’s ruling, but the efforts of the over half million people who signed petitions and volunteered to work toward getting fair legislative maps on the November ballot will not be in vain."
The redistricting map amendment gathered 563,000 signatures to place it on the November ballot. After a successful court challenge by the People's Map and the Illinois Democratic Party General Counsel Mike Kasper, the case was appealed to the state Supreme Court. The higher court upheld the Circuit Court ruling, which prevents the amendment from being placed on the November ballot.
“As your next state Senator, I will fight to get the fair maps and term limits on the ballot, so we can reform our political system and get state government working for the people again," Lewis said. "[Tom] Cullerton can’t credibly claim to support independent maps while his party’s leadership are the very people suing to stop them. We need independent leadership in the 23rd District, not someone who remains silent when party bosses expect it.”
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