Illinois Gov. Jb Pritzker Blasts Abbott And Trump Over Gop Redistricting Efforts

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump arsenic a "cheater" and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arsenic a "joke" days aft welcoming Texas Democrats who fled their authorities successful protestation of GOP-led redistricting efforts.

"Governor Abbott is nan joke," Pritzker, a Democrat, told NBC News’ “Meet nan Press” successful an question and reply that aired Sunday successful consequence to Abbott calling Illinois’ legislature representation a “joke.”

"He's nan 1 who is attempting mid-decade present — astatine a clip when, frankly, each of america are concerned astir nan early of democracy. He's virtually helping whittle it distant and licking nan boots of his leader, Donald Trump," Pritzker added.

Pritzker besides defended himself against allegations that Illinois' legislature representation is gerrymandered. Trump won 44% of nan statewide ballot successful 2024 but Republicans clasp only 3 of nan state's 17 House districts.

"We held nationalist hearings, legislative hearings. People attended them. They said out. There was a representation that was put out. There were really changes made to nan map. And a representation was passed, and it was done astatine nan extremity of nan census, nan decennial census. So that's really it's done successful this country," Pritzker said.

He went connected to say, "This is — it's cheating. Donald Trump is simply a cheater. He cheats connected his wives, he cheats astatine golf, and now he's trying to cheat nan American group retired of their votes."

Democratic authorities legislators from Texas person been huddling successful Illinois and other bluish states aft leaving nan authorities to contradict GOP leaders a quorum successful nan authorities House. Republicans person many times attempted to move guardant pinch their legislative plans, but person fallen short of nan 100 group basal for a quorum.

Abbott and his Republican allies precocious past month unveiled plans to tie caller legislature territory lines successful nan authorities that could guarantee their statement up to 5 additional safe Republican seats successful Congress. The process of redrawing territory lines traditionally happens only erstwhile a decade, aft nan decennial census is conducted.

Abbott has fought pinch Democrats successful nan legislature successful nan past and GOP leaders successful Texas have threatened nan Democratic legislators pinch suspension of salary and civilian arrests if they don’t return to nan statehouse.

“Democrats enactment for illustration they’re not going to travel backmost arsenic agelong arsenic this is an issue. That intends they’re not going to travel backmost until for illustration 2027 aliases 2028, because I’m going to telephone typical convention aft typical convention aft typical convention pinch nan aforesaid schedule items connected there,” Abbott told NBC News in an question and reply Thursday.

Trump has defended Abbott and Texas Republicans' efforts to tie caller maps that favour nan GOP, telling CNBC's Squawk Box, "We person an opportunity successful Texas to prime up 5 seats. We person a really bully governor, and we person bully group successful Texas. And I won Texas."

“I sewage nan highest ballot successful nan history of Texas, arsenic you astir apt know, and we are entitled to 5 much seats," he added.

During nan "Meet nan Press" interview, Pritzker besides responded to reports that nan FBI granted a petition from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is moving for re-election successful 2026, to thief way down nan Democratic authorities legislators who fled Texas.

"There's nary national rule that would let nan FBI to apprehension anybody that's present visiting our state," Pritzker said. "So it's a batch of grandstanding. That's what this is each about."

Pritzger was besides asked astir nan warfare successful Gaza and a Senate solution this week to artifact arms income to Israel amid nan humanitarian situation successful Gaza.

"I deliberation that nan solution that was put up successful nan United States Senate was an effort to nonstop a message. And it’s nan correct benignant of a message, which is that Israel needs to make judge that nan nutrient assistance that ought to spell to guiltless Palestinians should get there," he said. "And they should do everything successful their powerfulness to forestall nan starvation that I deliberation we’ve each seen."