Illinois's 4th congressional district

Composition

The Illinois 4th congressional district was originally formed in 1842. It included 17 counties, which were Cook, Lake, McHenry, Boone, De Kalb, Kane, Du Page, Will, Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Livingston, Iroquois, McLean, Vermilion and Champaign Counties. Beyond this Ford and Kankakee Counties were part of Vermillion and Iroquois Counties respectively at this point and thus in the district's boundaries.

In the redistricting following the 1990 United States census, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Governor Jim Edgar both wanted a Latino district, as Latinos were the fastest growing demographic group in the state at the time. In June 1991, Congressman Dennis Hastert, a suburban Republican, filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the existing congressional map was unconstitutional; the present congressional district boundaries emerged as a result of that lawsuit. A three-judge panel of the federal district court adopted the map proposed by Hastert and other Republican members of the Illinois Congressional delegation. Subsequent lawsuits challenging the redistricting as racially biased did not succeed in redrawing the district boundaries. The district, as it was in 2009, was in some places less than 50 yards (metres) wide and parts covered no more than one city block.

By county

Cities and CDPs with 10,000 or more people

• Chicago – 2,665,039
• Cicero – 85,268
• Oak Lawn – 58,362
• Berwyn – 57,250
• Elmhurst – 45,786
• Burbank – 29,439
• Melrose Park – 24,796
• Maywood – 23,512
• Brookfield – 19,476
• Bellwood – 18,789
• Franklin Park – 18,467
• Hinsdale – 17,395
• Bridgeview – 17,027
• La Grange – 16,321
• La Grange Park – 13,475
• Northlake – 12,840
• Summit – 11,617
• Burr Ridge – 11,192
• Lyons – 10,817
• River Grove – 10,612

2,500 – 10,000 people

• Riverside – 9,298
• Clarendon Hills – 8,702
• Oak Brook – 8,163
• North Riverside – 7,426
• Stickney – 7,110
• Berkeley – 5,338
• Stone Park – 4,576

Due to the 2020 redistricting, this district is primarily based around Chicago's Southwest Side and central Cook County, as well as a portion of eastern DuPage. The 4th district takes in the Chicago neighborhoods of Brighton Park, West Elsdon, and South Lawndale; most of New City, Pilsen, and Chicago Lawn; the part of Clearing east of S Austin Ave and W Austin Ave; eastern Garfield Ridge; and half of Bridgeport west of S Halsted St.

Outside the Chicago city limits, this district takes in the Cook County communities of Brookfield, Burbank, Berwyn, Cicero, Brookfield, Forest View, Lyons, Hinsdale (shared with DuPage County), Melrose Park, Northlake, McCook, Riverside, Stickney, Stone Park, and Summit; most of Berkeley; the portion of Franklin Park south of Franklin Ave; and part of Bellwood, Bridgeview, Burr Ridge, La Grange, La Grange Park, Maywood, North Riverside, Oak Lawn, and River Grove.

DuPage County is split between this district and the 6th district. They are partitioned by Illinois Highway 64, York St, Euclid Ave, Illinois Highway 38, Illinois Highway 83, West 22nd St, Kingston Dr, Regent Drive, 31st St, Kingey Highway, East Ogden Ave, Naperville Rd, Middaugh Rd, West Chicago Ave, North Prospect Ave, Walker Ave, 55th St, and 59th St. The 4th district takes in the municipalities of Hinsdale (shared with Cook County); and part of Clarendon Hills, Elmhurst, and Oak Brook.

Recent election results from statewide races

History

2011 redistricting

The 4th district includes the Chicago community of Brighton Park, in addition to almost all of Hermosa, Lower West Side and Gage Park; parts of Albany Park, Irving Park, Avondale, Logan Square, West Town, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin, Austin, McKinley Park, South Lawndale, New City, West Elsdon and Archer Heights; portions of riverfront Bridgeport; the portion of North Center southwest of Clybourn Avenue; and the northwestern tip of Lincoln Park. Since the 2011 redistricting, the district also includes portions of Berwyn, Brookfield, Cicero, Lyons, Melrose Park, Riverside, River Forest, and Elmwood Park.

Prominent representatives

List of members representing the district

Election results

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

References

• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

References

1. "My Congressional District".
2. (April 3, 2025). "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)".
3. The Economist. (April 25, 2002). "How to rig an election".
4. Campbell-Dollaghan, Kelsey. (2019-08-02). "The world's most revolting font is made out of gerrymandered voting districts".
5. Aaron Blake. (July 27, 2011). "Name that district! (Gerrymandering edition)". Washington Post.
6. "Congressional Districts by Land Area (National)". United States Census Bureau.
7. Parson, Stanley B., William W. Beach and Michael J. Durbin. ''United States Congressional Districts and Data, 1843–1883'' (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1986) p. 9
8. ''Hastert v. State Bd. of Elections'', 777 F.Supp. 634, 638 (N.D.Ill.1991).
9. "Illinois Redistricting History Since 1970".
10. ''James R. KING, v. State Bd. of Elections et al.''. See [http://www.allcourtdata.com/law/case/king-v-state-bd-of-elections/cz7xbs7H]{{Dead link. (August 2025). link. (October 24, 2016)
11. "The Rising Incumbent Reelection Rate: What'sGerrymandering Got to Do With It?". [[The Journal of Politics]].
12. "Dra 2020".
13. [http://elections.il.gov/Downloads/VotingInformation/PDF/2011Districts/2011CongDist4.pdf Illinois Congressional District 4] {{Webarchive. link. (August 17, 2012 , Illinois Board of Elections)
14. "2012 General Election Official Vote Totals". Illinois State Board of Elections.
15. "Illinois General Election 2014".
16. "Illinois General Election 2016".
17. "2018 General Election Official Vote Totals Book".
18. (2020-12-04). "Election Results 2020 GENERAL ELECTION". [[Illinois State Board of Elections]].
19. (November 20, 2020). "Illinois 2020 Election Results". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].