Sangamon Sun

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has launched his campaign for the newly redrawn 95th District.

“Today, I announced that I'll run for election in the new 95th District, which contains parts of Christian, Macon and Sangamon counties,” Butler posted on Facebook. “I look forward to running in this new district and to continue to serve as your voice at the State Capitol.”

Now serving his fourth term, Butler has served in public service for more than two decades, including as district chief of staff for both Congressman Rodney Davis and former Congressman Ray LaHood.

In addition to serving the 87th District, Butler is part of the Republican leadership team in his role as House assistant Republican leader and is the spokesperson on the Transportation: Vehicles & Safety Committee and the Redistricting Committee. His other House committee assignments include Tourism; Public Utilities; Museums, Arts, & Cultural Enhancement; Executive; Energy & Environment; Counties & Townships; as well as the subcommittees on Transportation Issues; Telecom/Video; and Citizen Impact.

Butler recently made news by speaking out against the new system of subcircuit maps created by Democrats for Cook County. As part of the plan, the number of subcircuits in Cook County is slated to increase from 15 to 20, with supporters arguing the plan is meant to better reflect population growth across the Chicagoland area.

Butler called the plan a “farce,” and that it would bring more politics to the judicial selection process. Butler has called attention to what he sees as Democrats' efforts to rush it through.

“If these aren’t going to be effective until 2024, then what is the rush?” the Sangamon Sun reported Butler said during a Dec. 16 hearing on the issue. “You said we needed to get these done as soon as possible, but if these aren’t effective until 2024, that gives us the 2022 session and the 2023 session that could take advantage of this. The 2023 general assembly could have a totally different makeup than we have today.”

Cook County was initially divided into 15 subcircuits, but under the new system 31 new circuit judges were elected in November, with 11 eventually poised to be elected from each district.

A three-judge panel also recently heard consolidated cases challenging the state’s new legislative district maps signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

The first of the consolidated suits was filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; the second by the East St. Louis Branch of the NAACP and other civil rights groups; and the third by Sen. Dan McConchie, Rep. Jim Durkin, and their respective GOP caucuses, according to Capitol News Illinois. All three named the Illinois State Board of Elections, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch as defendants.

Plaintiffs in the cases charge that the plan violates both the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. Each of the suits also charge that the new maps effectively dilute the power of minority voting groups by breaking up concentrated areas of voters who tend to vote as a bloc.