South Cook News

David Sheppard, a candidate for Illinois State Representative in District 36, has accused Democratic leaders of undermining democracy by pursuing super-gerrymandered maps. He vowed to fight for fairness and accountability in Springfield. This statement was made during an interview.

"I'm angry, and I'm fed up," said Sheppard. "The people of Illinois deserve real representation—not a system rigged 90/10 so Republicans have no voice. Democratic leaders pushing to “super-gerrymander” congressional maps just to lock in power is a betrayal of democracy itself. It's time for Illinoisans to have a real voice again."

According to the Illinois Policy, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Illinois Democrats in September 2025 to pursue "super-gerrymandered" congressional maps to counter Republican gains nationally. The report highlighted that Illinois Democrats currently hold 82% of the state's congressional seats despite receiving only 54% of the statewide vote, raising concerns about partisan map-drawing.

As per the 2024 congressional map, Illinois has 17 districts with Democrats holding 14 seats and Republicans holding three. This partisan distribution reflects a significant imbalance compared to voter distribution, reinforcing criticisms of gerrymandering practices in the state, as noted by the Illinois Policy Institute.

Illinois has faced repeated legal battles over gerrymandering over the past two decades. The 2011 Illinois Congressional Redistricting Act survived multiple lawsuits alleging unconstitutional partisan bias, with courts ultimately upholding the maps. This history illustrates how redistricting in Illinois has consistently prompted litigation, according to analysis by the Rose Institute.

Sheppard ran as a Republican candidate for Illinois House District 36 in 2022, challenging Democratic incumbent Kelly M. Burke after being recruited by the Illinois Policy Institute to bring electoral competition to a district long dominated by one party. His campaign emphasized accountability, government reform, and providing voters with real choice.

Illinois House District 36 includes parts of Chicago’s Southwest Side and suburbs such as Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Beverly, and Mount Greenwood. The seat has been held by Democrat Kelly M. Burke since 2011; she defeated Republican David Sheppard in 2022 with 61.8% of the vote, reflecting the district’s consistent Democratic lean according to Ballotpedia.