SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Republican leaders say hundreds of patriots filled the Illinois State Fair Director's Lawn for their annual GOP Day picnic and rally. 

Some said the 2026 election will be common sense against communism.

Donald Trump has a major influence over the current Illinois GOP, and you can see a cardboard cutout of the president next to Darren Bailey in the GOP tent. However, Republicans rarely said Trump's name Thursday and spent most of their time bashing Gov. JB Pritzker and other Democratic leaders.

"Illinois has got something else going on," said IL GOP Chair Bob Grogan. "Whether it's these scandals going on or it's term three for Pritzker, where there's a lot of fatigue. People were giving him the benefit of the doubt six or eight years ago. Now, you talk to them in line at the Jewel and they're shaking their head. They know things haven't gotten better." 

GOP leaders told WAND News they want to get more young people involved in the party, and they've been excited to see college students and teenagers at campaign events. 

Family, faith and affordability are the major focus for GOP candidates leading up to November, but they are also hitting Democrats over corruption and misconduct.

"They are not going to hold themselves accountable, so we have to do that," said House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "That's our job in the minority party, to hold the Democrats accountable for their bad behavior." 

US Senate candidate Don Tracy said Illinois cannot let Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton or other progressive Democrats win important races.

"We believe that fathers can help grow strong families," Tracy said. "They think fathers are expendable and can be easily replaced by the nanny welfare state."

Bailey said Republicans and moderate Democrats know Illinois is not thriving, as families are struggling under eight years of Pritzker.

"JB Pritzker owns the highest property taxes in America," Bailey said. "JB Pritzker owns the soaring utility bills. He owns these taxes. He owns these tolls - the fees that are taking more from working families every day. Enough is enough." 

Bailey stressed that every level of government has suffered because of Pritzker's unlimited power and money. Republicans are furious that Pritzker just dropped $65 million into his campaign fund this week. However, Grogan said Republicans don't need millions of dollars to win over voters. 

While many candidates for office were at the fair talking with supporters, Rep. Mary Miller was not at the event. 

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