Changes

{{USState

{{USState

|name="Illinois

|name="Illinois

|flag=Illinois_State_Flag.gif

|flag=Illinois_State_Flag.gif

|motto="State" Sovereignty; National Union"

|motto="State" Sovereignty; National Union"

|nick=The Prairie State

|nick=The Prairie State

|capital=Springfield

|capital=Springfield

The population distribution has led Illinois to lean politically to the [[left]] in most recent non-local elections.  Many consider Illinois to be a liberal stronghold, especially in regard to [[presidential]] elections.

The population distribution has led Illinois to lean politically to the [[left]] in most recent non-local elections.  Many consider Illinois to be a liberal stronghold, especially in regard to [[presidential]] elections.

Currently, Illinois has a [[Democratic]] governor, [[Patrick Joseph Quinn]], but has elected [[Republican]] governors in the recent past, such as [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/</ref> Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling [[commercial driver's license]]s when he was the [[Illinois Secretary of State]].  

Currently, Illinois has a [[Democratic]] governor, [[Patrick Joseph Quinn]], but has elected [[Republican]] governors in the recent past, such as [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.&lt;ref&gt;http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/&lt;/ref&gt; Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling [[commercial driver's license]]s when he was the [[Illinois Secretary of State]].  

===Elected Officials===

===Elected Officials===

==References==

==References==

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