Pritzker Goes On 'Colbert,' Jokes About IL Gerrymandering, Defends TX Lawmakers

ILLINOIS — Gov. JB Pritzker appeared Tuesday night on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,”where he took a gentle ribbing about gerrymandering in Illinois and discussed hosting Texas lawmakers who have fled their home state in protest of President Donald Trump’s congressional redistricting push.

Colbert noted there are “some crazy districts in Illinois,” showing the state congressional map.

“We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide,” replied the governor, joking that kindergarteners made up an “independent commission” that handled districting for the state.

More than 50 state lawmakers have left Texas for other states — including Illinois — to prevent a quorum and stop special sessions to redraw legislative districts to gain five Republican seats.

Pritzker on Tuesday described the Texas Democrats as “great heroes.”

“As long as they’re in Illinois, they’re safe,” he told Colbert.

However, Wednesday morning, thelawmakers were among 400 people evacuated from the Q-Center hotel and convention complex in St. Charles following a report of a potential bomb threat.

Pritzker said "threats of violence" made against the lawmakers were being investigated.