IL-03 Re-Map: Lipinski Mulls Comeback, Newman Freaks Out

OAK LAWN, IL — Dan Lipinski, the seven-term congressman who lost the 2020 Democratic primary to progressive Marie Newman, has hinted at a possible comeback after Springfield Democrats unveiled their proposed redistricting map for the 3rd Congressional District on Friday.

All states redraw their congressional maps after the decennial census, based on population changes. In addition to congressional district boundaries, the Illinois State Legislature redraws the lines of the state’s 118 House and 59 Senate seats. Democrats currently control the Illinois House 72-45, and 41-18 in the Illinois Senate.

Illinois lost one of its 18 seats in the U.S. House delegation, based on population changes in the 2020 census. Illinois Democrats currently control 13 seats and Republicans five seats in the U.S. House.

The proposed map eliminates most of the Chicago precincts, where Newman garnered her most votes in the November 2020 election, cutting out the progressive heart of her grassroots coalition.

“While our team continues to review the draft congressional map that was released earlier today, it is abundantly apparent that what has currently been proposed for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District is not only retrogressive but substantially diminishes the diverse and progressive voices of Chicago’s Southwest Side and suburbs. I know that IL-03's constituents will ensure their voices are heard loud and clear at these public hearings over the coming days,” Newman said in a written statement.

Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, chairwoman of the House Redistricting Committee, called the proposal "an excellent first draft that amplifies diverse voices and gives every person in our state a say in government," the Daily Herald reported.

Illinois Republicans blasted the Democrats’ proposed maps as “shameful.”

“Democrats are back at it again, disenfranchising voters and putting politicians before the people of Illinois,” Illinois GOP Party chairman Don Tracy said in a written statement. “Back in May, Democrats employed a sham redistricting process devoid of transparency that was lambasted by good government and community advocacy groups relentlessly. They doubled down on that process in their cleanup efforts this week, and the result is a map drawn by and for politicians behind closed doors – again.”

A devout Catholic, Lipinski attributed his primary loss to his views to protect the unborn, when he joined 200 House Republicans in signing an amicus brief to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision.

"I was pilloried in millions of dollars in TV ads," he said in his concession speech. "I was shunned by many of my colleagues and other Democratic Party members and operators. I was shunned because of my pro-life stance."

Lipinski told Crain’s Greg Hinz he was looking at the map formally proposed by the Illinois House and Senate redistricting committee. The remap pushes the IL-03 boundaries further into the suburbs, where Lipinski is likely to appeal to older White pro-life voters.

“Of course, we don’t know if this is going to be the final map,” Lipinski said. “But if it is, “I’m not saying yes and I’m not saying no. . . .It’s fair to say there’s a possibility I’ll run.”

The redrawn lines also put U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger’s (IL-16) Channahon home in IL-03, where pundits say he has a shot at defeating left-leaning Newman. Kinzinger was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump after the Capitol breach, and an outspoken critic of the former president.

Lipinski left the door open for a possible run for political office last year when he told Patch he wasn’t ruling anything out. He was also contributing a chapter to a history book about Congress.

"It has been a number of years since there has been any real bipartisanship," he said. "On both sides of the aisle, we're getting people who are more extreme."

Newman sent out a campaign fundraising email on Monday, stating, “the anti-choice lawmaker you helped us defeat in 2020 re-emerged to explore a run” in 2022.

“Thanks to the work of a diverse coalition, grassroots energy, and strong support from our constituents, we defeated an anti-choice, anti-immigrant, anti-worker ‘Democrat’ in the primary last year,” Newman’s email read. “Dan Lipinski is not in alignment with the Democratic Party, and we can't brush this threat aside. He wants power back to overturn Roe v. Wade, keep wages stagnant, and keep people from getting health care — he has no interest in representing constituents again.”

Sen. Bill Cunningham (18th District), on his way to Springfield for the veto session, said the Illinois General Assembly has a portal where ordinary citizens sand special interest groups can submit their own maps.

“I would just caution this one of several proposals that have been made ....” Cunningham said. “We be looking at all those proposals, verbal and written, to gather input. It’s unlikely the map that was published last week that got all this attention will not likely be the final map. “

The Illinois legislature will consider the map during its two-week veto session, that began this week. A public hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, which will be streamed live from Virtual Room 1. Citizens may request to provide testimony, submit electronic testimony, or submit electronic witness slips via the General Assembly website in advance of the hearing.

Illinois Redistricting House Committee
Illinois Redistricting Senate Committee