Court Postpones Congressional Candidate Filings in Map Court Fight

A federal court in Chicago has postponed candidate filing for congressional races while it decides a Republican lawsuit challenging Illinois' new redistricting map.

A three-judge panel says candidate filing will start Dec. 23 and end Dec. 27. The original filing period would have been Monday through Dec. 5. The filing date was changed as judges deliberate a lawsuit that seeks to throw out the state's new congressional districts map, which was drawn by Democrats. Republicans contend it will decimate their gains in Congress and dilute Latino voting power.

Judges changed the filing dates while they decide if they're going to change district lines on the map or deny the Republicans' lawsuit.

If the map is still in dispute after Dec. 21, a new filing schedule will be set.