# Eleven Illinois counties to vote on exploring separation from Cook County

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/illinois-counties-to-vote-on-prospect-of-forming-new-state-without-crime-ridden-chicago/
- Published: 2026-10-26T02:18:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-26T02:32:27+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16238135/Illinois-counties-vote-new-state-without-Chicago.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Elections, Politics, World

## Key points

- 33 counties have backed exploring separation from Cook County.
- 11 more counties are due to vote on non-binding measures.
- State and congressional approval would be required to form a new state.

## Summary

Voters in another 11 Illinois counties are set to consider non-binding measures on separating from Cook County, which includes Chicago. Supporters say rural communities feel overlooked by Chicago’s influence over state policy, while Governor JB Pritzker has dismissed the campaign as a stunt and said separation will not happen.

So far, all 33 counties that have held such votes have backed exploring separation, according to the campaign group Illinois Separation. Cook County has nearly 41 per cent of Illinois’ population, and four neighbouring counties account for a further 22 per cent; all five lean Democratic. A new state would require approval from the Illinois legislature and US Congress, making the proposal a long shot.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.