Congressional districts have an average of 765,000 people — after the 2020 census, Illinois’ 13th congressional district had 725,183 residents.
There are around 71,000 college students in this district, combining the populations of the University and the University of Illinois Springfield with Parkland Community College. Additionally, according to the University, over 31,000 staff members are employed by these institutions.
This means that roughly 14% of the district’s population — spanning from the Metro East area of St. Louis to Champaign-Urbana — has a direct connection to the University. This underscores the University’s significant role in shaping the lives and communities within the district.
I spoke with the congresswoman for Illinois’ 13th congressional district, Rep. Nikki Budzinski, to explore why universities play such an important role in dictating the workings of congressional districts.
It’s hard to ignore the main purpose of college campuses: to prepare students for the world and workforce. Budzinski knows this firsthand, as her political career began at the University, one of the campuses she now represents.
Because of that connection, the congresswoman recognizes the importance of bringing out the vote of college students.
“Over 11,000 students voted in the 13th congressional district at the University of Illinois in this last election … and that demonstrates, I think, an engagement that students have in being a part of the political process,” Budzinski said.
Furthermore, Budzinski acknowledged that “there’s no substitute for actually sitting down and meeting with students to hear those concerns and what they’re optimistic about, too. So I’ve tried to do that. I’m going to continue to do that.”
Statistics show voters aged 18-29 are Democrat-leaning. However, in Republican Donald Trump’s victories in the 2016 and 2024 presidential elections, turnout for the age group was at 43% and 42%, respectively. In 2020, when Democrat Joe Biden won, around 54% of that group cast a ballot, showing that this youth vote is key.
When we consider that the highest concentrations of these types of voters are in congressional districts like Illinois’ 13th, their importance to those types of districts becomes more evident.
However, plenty of other constituents in communities that look very different from C-U are affected by the at-large voting decisions of the district.
The economy was the largest issue for voters in the 2024 election on both sides of the political spectrum, according to the Pew Research Center. This was true for both young and old, rural and urban voters.
“This last election demonstrated that the economy and cost of living for folks is really what is top of mind,” Budzinski said. “That’s for a student at the University of Illinois, juggling student debt and paying for their apartment and their classroom materials, to a farmer who’s trying to address the input prices that are going into making sure that their farm is fully operational and making a profit.”
In a congressional district made up of both rural and urban areas, bridging the gap between those vastly different voters is paramount. As Budzinski noted, a student in Champaign may have more in common with a farmer in Macoupin County than people may think.
That’s where the University demonstrates its critical importance, serving as that aforementioned bridge for Illinois’ 13th district, evident in the substantial federal grant funding it secured.
Budzinski highlighted, “I’ve worked with the U of I to receive over $215 million in federal grant funding,” supporting initiatives like the College of ACES program and the Research Park.
Another key achievement during her first term was “working with the University to get the designation of the iFAB tech hub,” which brought in $51 million for bio-manufacturing and fermentation efforts.
While congressional districts all have similar populations, not many have the breadth of a flagship state university system to rely on. Educational institutions in any electoral division bring undeniable advantages.
As Budzinski pointed out during our conversation, she has “partnered with the University of Illinois on some grants on the western side of my district to benefit the community of east St. Louis … when I asked for assistance with some grant applications, the University showed up to provide that assistance.”
By fostering partnerships, securing funding and addressing shared concerns, the University shows how institutions of higher learning can play a pivotal role in bridging divides and driving progress in congressional districts like Illinois’ 13th.
George is a senior in LAS.
gca3@dailyillini.com
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