House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28, also known as HJRCA 28, passed along party lines and would amend the Illinois Constitution’s redistricting language beginning with maps drawn after the 2030 census.

Under the proposal, equal population would remain the top requirement, followed by protections ensuring voters are not denied an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice based on race. The amendment also adds language encouraging the creation of “racial coalition or influence districts” where practical. Contiguity and compactness would still be included but ranked lower in priority.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savannah) issued a statement calling the amendment a partisan move that would worsen gerrymandering in Illinois.

“This is not reform. This is a political power grab,” McCombie said. “Illinois already has some of the worst gerrymandered maps in the nation, and instead of fixing that failure, HJRCA 28 doubles down, rigging the system for decades to come.