Politics
Illinois GOP Leaders Vow to Flip 5 House Seats While New Chair Aims to Get Rid of ‘Blue Funk’
Video: The WTTW News Spotlight Politics team on Kathy Salvi’s promise to “make Illinois red again” and more of the day’s top stories. (Produced by Eunice Alpasan and Blair Paddock)
Republican House Minority Leader Tony McCombie vowed Wednesday to flip five seats in the Illinois House while newly elected GOP Chair Kathy Salvi pledged to unite her fractured party and reverse a decade-long series of statewide defeats.
McCombie said the Illinois GOP would focus on winning the 45th District, in the northwest suburbs; the 76th District, in north-central Illinois; and three downstate districts, while defending the 40 seats they now control.
“Let’s not waste any more time debating our differences,” McCombie said. “Let’s join together, let’s turn our great state around.”
Salvi, who will take over the party officially on Friday from outgoing Chair Don Tracy, made her first public appearance at the Wednesday morning breakfast for the Illinois delegation to the Republican National Convention.
Salvi said she often feels a “blue funk” when she comes back to Illinois after leaving the state.
“Well, I’ll tell you your blue funk is over,” Salvi said. “We’re going to make Illinois red again.”
The last Republican nominee for president to win Illinois’ 19 electoral college votes was former President George H.W. Bush, who edged out Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis by less than a percentage point.
The last Republican to win statewide office was Bruce Rauner, who served a single term as governor between 2015 and 2019.
Salvi takes over the GOP, the super-minority in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, after Tracy resigned saying he was fed up with arguing between Republicans.
“Listen, I love this party because sometimes we air our dirty laundry with one another and it gets into the press,” Salvi said, vowing to wipe the slate clean.
Salvi vowed to “pound the pavement” to elect Republican candidates committed to less government, lower taxes and more freedom.
“Republican unity wins in 2024,” Salvi said, a phrase she repeated several times. “We are not the party of division and divisiveness. We are the party of hope and optimism and a better Illinois and a better future for America.”
Video: Amanda Vinicky is live from the Republican National Convention on Wednesday evening with the latest on the Illinois delegation. (Produced by Blair Paddock)
Salvi said the party is already coalescing; delegates to the RNC who hadn’t talked in ages were chatting and having fun together.
“They’re here having a good time and working on what are we going to do to improve the party and the state,” alternate delegate Taunya Madden said.
Alternate delegate Joe Sell said it’s simple: Even if the Republican someone’s vying for doesn’t win in the primary, when it comes to the general election, stick with the party.
“You look at the guy that beats your candidate versus the Democrat and you say, ‘OK, who’s going to do better for the state?’” Sells said.
For some Illinois delegates, the roadblock to party unity is a gap in communication between different counties throughout the state.
“For me, unity in my party is more transparency or communication between different sides,” said delegate Laurie Schaefer from south suburban Crete.
State Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Okawville) spoke with WTTW News about being in the super-minority in the Illinois House.
“Wouldn’t it be an amazing thing if we could see Donald Trump actually help Illinois actually gain seats back?” Meier asked. “I’m one of 40 out of 118. You want to try to run a bill in Springfield that’s good for your district? That’s not easy when you’re one of 40.”
Blair Paddock and Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.
Contact Heather Cherone: @HeatherCherone | (773) 569-1863 | [email protected]
