Illinois Democrats and Governor JB Pritzker faced a setback as the Illinois Supreme Court upheld a ruling that deemed a Democrat-passed law unconstitutional. The law prevented the slating of legislative candidates for the November election in races where political parties did not have contenders. The court decision, upheld due to a lack of majority consensus, favored a downstate judge’s ruling that the law burdened candidates’ rights. Governor Pritzker defended the law as a way to prevent “backroom deals” and ensure candidates ran in primaries. However, Republicans viewed it as a tactic to give Democrats an advantage.
The court case, brought forward by the conservative Liberty Justice Center on behalf of GOP candidates, was supported by Republican Senate leader John Curran. The decision allowed GOP candidates who were circulating petitions to run in the November election despite the new law. Several GOP candidates will now be able to challenge Democratic incumbents in the upcoming election, providing voters with more choices.
The ruling also preserved provisions for nonbinding advisory proposals on the ballot, including questions about taxing high earners for property tax relief and civil charges for candidates interfering with election workers. The move aimed at crowding out a conservative question about parental consent for gender counseling. Overall, the court decision has ensured a more diverse range of candidates for the upcoming election, giving voters a broader spectrum of choices. Governor Pritzker’s office did not immediately respond to the Supreme Court’s decision.
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