Upcoming “New Illinois” Convention to split state driven by rural, urban divide

The divide between rural and urban areas in Illinois is one of the main drivers of many looking to split the state in two.

G.H. Merritt is Chairperson of New Illinois, a group that plans to have their 7th Constitutional Convention next weekend in Bloomington.  The movement aims to make a new state out of most of Illinois, excluding Cook County.

Among similar movements in other states around the country, Indiana recently created a commission to investigate absorbing counties that want to split from Illinois.

Merritt says she doesn’t expect Indiana’s effort to succeed, as it required cooperation from Illinois Democrats.

The New Illinois Convention is Friday evening, April 4th and all day Saturday, April 5th at the Chateau Hotel and Convention Center in Bloomington.