Congressional Map Would Shift Palatine, Walsh

Most of Palatine would become part of the 6th Congressional District based on new legislative maps being proposed by Democrats.

Palatine is represented by Republican Joe Walsh in the 8th Congressional District. Under the new map, most of the village likely would have Republican Peter Roskam as its incumbent candidate in 2012.

The new map shifts Walsh's McHenry area home into the 14th congressional district. A candidate does not have to live in a legislative district to represent it, however, the new map would create some tough decisions for several incumbent Republican congressional candidates in 2012.

Since Illinois Democrats control the legislature, they had complete control over the redistricting process. The maps are redrawn every 10 years based on new census data. Illinois lost a congressional representative and will have 18 members in the House in 2012.

If Walsh ran in the 14th, which would be his home district, he likely would face fellow freshman Republican Randy Hultgren in a primary.

The new map would include two districts that are currently unoccupied: the 8th and 11th.

Part of east side of Palatine would remain in the newly-created 8th Congressional District.

The Rand Road corridor, east of Capri Drive and sections of Palatine east of Rohlwing Road. Most of the rest of the new 8th District includes Schaumburg, Streamwood, Hanover Park, Elk Grove Village, as well as a large section of Elgin. The district stretches as far south as Lombard.