Illinois Republicans rally for Trump-Vance ticket, hope to pick up legislative seats in November

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Hundreds of Republicans filled the Illinois State Fair Director's lawn for the annual GOP Day picnic and rally Thursday. Top GOP leaders said a little rain wouldn't ruin their party and argued the storm was a positive sign for their battle in November.

This was the largest crowd WAND News had seen at the GOP Day celebration. Their message was clear - Illinois Republicans are fully behind the Trump-Vance ticket.

The sea of red, white and blue clothes also had some shirts with the unique 2024 message of "I'm voting for the Convicted Felon."

However, Thursday's rally was a major test for new Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi to try and relate with the rank and file of her party. Salvi said the GOP needs to restore sanity in the Capitol after years of Democratic control.

"School choice, safe neighborhoods, reliable and affordable energy, a free market economy, more freedom, and how about our southern border? Securing our southern border," Salvi said. "These are the principles which will win over the votes to win in November from President Trump and Vance all the way down the ticket."

The Illinois Republican Party tent is also noticeably different this year, as Republicans have removed posters of corrupt Democratic lawmakers to showcase Trump and Vance.

State GOP leaders rarely mentioned former president Trump while he served in office. Although, the party has shifted further to the right and many believe that is igniting the GOP base.

"We got lazy. We believed the lie that our voice and our vote does not matter," said House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "But, it matters. Does it matter? Yes. Does our voice matter? Yes. Does our vote matter? Yes."

McCombie said Democrats hoped to prevent GOP growth by creating partisan maps a few years ago.

"We are not going to let that happen because Republicans are not afraid to work. We embrace the hard races," McCombie stressed. "We are certainly not afraid of the Democrats who don't know how to win by changing the rules in the middle of the game."

Republicans also took jabs at top Democratic leaders who frequently say they are the party delivering results for Illinois.

"Democrats have delivered catch and release policies that prioritize violent criminals over law-abiding citizens and crime victims," said Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove). "Democrats delivered $1 billion in tax increases to pay for the migrant crisis they created at the border and Gov. Pritzker delivered to Illinois."

Curran said Republicans need to support every candidate up and down the ballot to take on the Democratic machine in Illinois and Washington D.C. He also noted that it is a lot easier to sit on the sidelines and complain than step up and make a difference for the state.

None of the Republican congressional delegations could make Thursday's picnic or rally due to scheduling conflicts.

"President Trump's message wins the day. It will be our duty to communicate that," Salvi said. "Safe and secure borders, safe streets, and prosperous communities that will bring in business and meaningful jobs not just to Illinois, but throughout the nation."