Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn waited nearly a month after legislative approval before inking his party's breathtaking remap into law last week, but the damage to Republicans was already done. Democrats took a sledgehammer to the current map, drawing five of 11 GOP incumbents into districts with other members and seriously threatening two others. Overall, Democrats should reap a bonanza of four or five additional seats, while eliminating five or six Republicans. Attention now turns to senior GOP Reps. Judy Biggert (IL-13) and Don Manzullo (R), who could decide to retire.
A quick breakdown: Democrats are now likely to pick up two newly designed suburban Chicago districts, and are favorites to unseat freshman GOP Reps. Bob Dold (IL-10) and Bobby Schilling (IL-17). They also gave GOP Rep. Tim Johnson a radically altered downstate district that can only be considered a Toss Up. The GOP's lawsuit to throw out the map over Democrats' decision not to create a second Hispanic majority seat appears likely to fail. In fact, the most remarkable aspect of Democrats' map could be that it actually seems to
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