* More background is here if you need it. Tuesday night Tribune article…
The decision by top Illinois Republican officials to dethrone the party’s vice chair could portend even bigger changes for the moribund organization, including renewed efforts to replace its Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy.
Mark Shaw, the former chairman of the GOP in Lake County, lost the title of state party vice chair and also was removed from the party’s fundraising committee during a special meeting Monday of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee following controversies last month at the state GOP convention in Collinsville.
State GOP sources familiar with the inner workings of the state party said the events leading up to Shaw’s sanctioning also underscored long-standing concerns about the leadership of Tracy, a Springfield attorney who has headed up the party since February 2021. Tracy took no public position on whether Shaw should continue as state GOP vice chair and said he was powerless to force him to step down — a stance critics cited as weak. They also noted Tracy questioned whether Shaw was being fairly treated.
The party instability comes less than a month before the state’s 64-member delegation heads to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention’s nomination of former President Donald Trump. The entire delegation is pledged to Trump, including Shaw and Tracy. But conventions are typically designed to display party unity — an element lacking within the Illinois GOP leadership.
“His days are numbered. It’s just a matter of how it happens,” one Republican familiar with the intraparty discussions said of Tracy. The source asked that their name not be used to avoid intensifying the feuding.
* Wednesday resignation press release from Don Tracy…
For almost 3 1/2 years, I have had the honor of Chairing the Illinois Republican Party, and enjoyment of working closely with the great majority of you to rebuild the Illinois Republican Party. In that time, we have doubled State Party operational capabilities by better fundraising and building a bigger team through among other things activation of several new and old SCC Committees such as the Finance Committee and Election Integrity Committee.
When I took on this full-time volunteer job in February, 2021, I thought I would be spending most of my time fighting Democrats, helping elect Republicans, raising money to pay for more Party infrastructure, and advocating for Party unity. Unfortunately, however, I have had to spend far too much time dealing with intra party power struggles, and local intra party animosities that continued after primaries and County Chair elections.
In better days, Illinois Republicans came together after tough intra party elections. Now however, we have Republicans who would rather fight other Republicans than engage in the harder work of defeating incumbent Democrats by convincing swing voters to vote Republican.
Like Vince Kolber, my friend and former Finance Committee Chair, I am also concerned about the current infatuation of some members of the SCC, few as they are, with certain individuals they call “grass roots” leaders. Recent events including the RNC Committeeman election, immediately followed by the retribution sacking of the losing candidate Vice-Chair Mark Shaw, a long time State Party leader and worker, without due process and without taking any step to disciplining others for alleged or admitted Convention misconduct, portends a direction of the State Party I am not comfortable with.
Accordingly, I hereby resign as Chair of the Illinois Republican Party effective upon the election of my successor preferably no later than July 19, 2024 at 5pm. Like Vince, I will continue to personally support many of our great Republican state, local and federal candidates, and our many great Republican County Chairs and other positive and productive Republican leaders.
I hereby appoint Jan Weber as Chair of a Search Committee and empower her to add two other members to that Committee as she sees fit.”
PS My resignation has nothing to do with today’s anonymously sourced Chicago Tribue article. I made my decision to resign early yesterday morning, communicated it to Matt Janes before our 10am staff call yesterday, and began drafting this notice yesterday shortly before or after the staff call. Also, no one from the Tribune called me about this article, which I did not learn of until this morning. And, I do not believe any SCC member talked to the Tribune about the article.
Don Tracy
Chairman
Illinois Republican Party
As I told subscribers, Tracy sent out word of his resignation before the Tribune story was published. The Republican National Convention ends July 18.
* Democratic Party of Illinois react…
Following the latest reports of Illinois GOP dysfunction and Chair Don Tracy’s sudden resignation, the Democratic Party of Illinois released the following statement:
“While the IL GOP finds itself in chaos, the Democratic Party of Illinois enters the 2024 general election as a united party standing for freedom and opportunity for all of Illinois’ working families. As a reminder, last cycle, Illinois Democrats defeated the IL GOP’s MAGA candidate for Governor, re-elected Senator Tammy Duckworth, protected supermajorities in the IL General Assembly, and expanded our representation in Congress. In contrast, the IL GOP has been defined by a litany of electoral disasters, constant infighting, meager fundraising, and a strict adherence to a losing set of anti-choice, anti-worker, pro-Trump policies.
While we don’t expect new leadership to change any of that, we do wish the best of luck to the inevitable MAGA extremist who will succeed Don Tracy as Chair.”
* Tribune follow-up story…
Tracy held the party chairmanship since February 2021. An attorney from Springfield and a co-owner of his family’s wealthy food distribution business, he was narrowly elected by a moderate coalition of the Republican State Central Committee over Shaw to replace then-GOP Gov. Bruce Rauner’s handpicked chairman, Tim Schneider, who Shaw helped push out.
Tracy was chosen as the first state Republican chairman from outside the Chicago area since 1988. Though previously an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014, he was viewed as coming from the donor class of the party rather than having a strong background in rank-and-file political organizing.
That image proved to be his downfall as the GOP suffered continued political losses that led Democrats to control all three branches of state government and saw its suburban base sharply eroded in the populous collar counties. Republicans have lost a sizable share of suburban residents as the party that once embraced fiscal conservatism and social moderation has shifted sharply to more social conservatism and moved the GOP’s geographic base to less-populated rural downstate Illinois.
Tracy failed to find ways to harness the rural populism that was an outgrowth of Trump’s dominance of the party. He also didn’t help party candidates distance themselves from Trump’s unpopularity in the suburbs, the region which has traditionally been the key for Republican success statewide.
* Illinois Review posts its grievance list…
During the 2022 Primary, conservative grassroots candidates were viciously attacked by IL GOP-endorsed candidates in mailers paid for by the Illinois Republican Party – falsely claiming that their conservative opponents were “fake” Republicans and “not one of us.”
And in the gubernatorial primary in 2022, the IL GOP-backed candidate Richard Irivn was receiving support from party leadership – and his campaign was even allowed to use the IL GOP postage discount. A perk not afforded to other conservative grassroots candidates for governor.
During the school board races in April of 2023, Tracy and the IL GOP were nowhere to be found – abandoning the grassroots base of the party while Gov. JB Pritzker and the Democratic Party of Illinois spent $800,000 to support their far-left school board candidates and attack their conservative opponents.
Just months before his election as chairman of the IL GOP, Tracy donated to a Democratic candidate endorsed by liberal US Sen. Dick Durbin and Democrat US Rep. Cherie Bustos, a friend and ally of former Democratic US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. But this should come as no surprise because after all, during the 2002 Illinois Primary, Tracy ran as a Democrat. And in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Tracy’s family-owned business, Dot Foods, where he is an owner, donated to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
…Adding… The Tribune reported the other day that Aaron Del Mar was a frontrunner to replace Tracy. And now there’s a “Draft Del Mar” website…
The site ownership has been “Redacted for privacy.”
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 8:01 am:
Alas, try as he might, Tracy didn’t meet the purity requirements of the cult. I can only imagine what we might expect from his replacement. Presumably someone who will bring even more vitriol, who will continue to make the party more irrelevant, while blaming these failures on the voters.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 8:59 am:
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed and we will deserve it.”
- Senator Lindsey Graham
How prescient.
And if anyone thinks Illinois is not willing to elect (sane) Republicans, it was only a couple of years ago this state had Republican Governors and a Republican US Senator. The party left reality and so the people left the party.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:12 am:
Just when you thought the Republicans in Illinois couldn’t do anything else to make themselves less relevant they have managed to find a way. When will these people realize that the vast majority of the voters in this state think that they are crazy and that they have no interest in their “ideas.” The fact that these people are more concerned with purity than actually winning elections amazes me. It’s like they think if they yell loud enough people will all of a sudden agree with them. The Republicans in this state deserve every thing that is happening to them. I would continue to completely ignore them if I were in the General Assembly or the Governor. They are completely irrelevant.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:20 am:
“harness the rural populism”
That’s quite a turn of phrase to describe a political project that has literally nothing to do with economic ‘populism’ or the material living standards of rural Americans. Almost like the Tribune is making a deliberate effort not to describe something as what it actually is.
Journalism! You should pay money for this, for some reason, or democracy dies.
- pawn - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:35 am:
@Charles Edward Cheese, do you consider Bruce Rauner a sane Governor? who set about deliberately to destroy our state for an ideological fight against public sector unions? People died because of his actions and choices. To my mind, the only sane Republicans at the time were the ones who stepped up to vote against that destruction, like then-Rep. Steve Anderson, and they paid the price for being sane.
How far back do we have to go to find sane Republican leaders in Illinois?
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:53 am:
The leader of its ticket constantly attacks other Republicans yet Tracy is surprised that locals act the same way? The fish rots from the head down.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:54 am:
Somewhere Darren Bailey thinks God is calling him to ride to the rescue of his party.
- Jerry - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 9:59 am:
Illinois Review has ruined more minds than LSD.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:09 am:
The circular firing squad wins again.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:10 am:
You root for chaos, you get chaos.
Man, I remember when this party had it’s act down cold.
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:10 am:
Hope that Darren Bailey stays down on the farm and refrains from seeking another office. Bailey should give his voice and those teeth a rest.
- low level - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:20 am:
No suburbs, no future for the IL GOP. This isn’t rocket science.
- Suburban Guy - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:23 am:
Successful parties are there to help amplify the candidates and their message. Not the other way around which is where the party finds itself now. The party is dictating the message and not working for the candidates. The Democratic Party of Illinois amplifies Pritzker, Welch, and Harmon. It doesn’t set its own agenda. That’s a successful party.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:38 am:
We might as well let the clowns run the circus at this point. That is fine if it is the MAGA party and all of that. I am confident they will develop something else to fight among themselves about.
It hasn’t been the place for me for a while, and at this point, it likely never will be. Thompson and Edgar’s party is no longer there. That isn’t good for Illinois, but it is our situation.
Good luck raising money.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:50 am:
Does this mean there will be some choice suites available in Milwaukee next month.
Just yesterday Lead Whack Glen Beck was blathering about how the GOPies were thisclose to clearly out all the non Whacks. He will wet himself when he hears this.
- low level - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:56 am:
==Man, I remember when this party had it’s act down cold.==
100%. Even though I was on the other side. I respected the IL GOP w Edgar & Co in charge back in the day. They were very disciplined and effective. That is ancient history now.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 10:57 am:
Irvin and Bailey illustrated the problem. Irvin had to try to become Bailey. He couldn’t be the pro-BLM moderate he really was, and looked ridiculous pandering to the MAGA base, only to get trounced. The GOP is now reduced to the size of one autocrat, good luck trying to be anything different in leadership.
- James - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 11:02 am:
If the dems would allow a pro life - pro second amendment voter in the party I’d head across the aisle. Alas, there is no room at the Inn, so I’m out in the manager with the republicans.
- Deal With It - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 11:20 am:
History note: the Republican Party has always been a fusion party composed of factions. Winning Republican candidates bridged those differences at election time much like the Democrats harmonized after the primaries. The Democrats are more disciplined about enforcing party unity than the GOP.
Don Tracy was a polite gentleman incapable of making a decision. He waffled too often and appeared totally feckless. The energy for the time being is with the MAGA conservatives. The consultant class that promoted Richard Irvin are in the minority now.
The Illinois State Republican Convention was held in Collinsville over Memorial Day weekend. It was clear that Tracy and his allies were on thin ice afterwards, but it took weeks for the mainstream media to catch up with the story.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 11:21 am:
==pro life - pro second amendment voter in the party==
You’re allowed. You just won’t be very satisfied if those are your absolutes and you don’t vote on any other basis.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 11:52 am:
“If the dems would allow a pro life - pro second amendment voter in the party I’d head across the aisle.”
LOL.
All they need to do to potentially get your pwecious widdle vote is to abandon their principles. What an offer you are making here.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 11:54 am:
=Don Tracy was a polite gentleman incapable of making a decision. He waffled too often and appeared totally feckless.=
No, he was trying to peddle MAGA pablum but wasn’t very good at it. And as a result he simultaneously turned off suburban voters while alienating what constitutes today’s party base. He welcomed all (even those that should be condemned) and appealed to no one. He was a man on an island.
- Just the facts - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 12:01 pm:
James proving why the ILGOP is dead in Illinois. They’re “pro-life” until birth; then it’s good luck kid, because being pro-gun becomes more important.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 12:10 pm:
James, we good.
Just stay where you’re at.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 12:24 pm:
Maybe sit the next one out, James
- Primate - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 12:44 pm:
Looks like my post was taken down. I understand. Too funny.
- Long Time Independent - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 12:53 pm:
They need to clean house in Cook County starting with Morrison and his body guard DelMar. Both do nothing but slam anyone that disagrees with them. Morrison was a key factor in recruiting Irwin as the GOP candidate which turned out to be worse than Keys. Now DelMar is making calls to see if he can get support to be the next minority candidate for Governor. And that’s a fact
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 1:07 pm:
=Alas, there is no room at the Inn, so I’m out in the manager with the republicans.=
The right and civic responsibility to vote does not come with a requirement belong to a political party. The idea that you have to pick a party and only vote for those candidates that fly the party flag is pure baloney. Vote for the candidate that you think is best, nobody can do anything about that. It is what we should all do.
For the past 3 or 4 election cycles I have bpted mostly D because the R’s we are served are just plain dangerous.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 1:19 pm:
- If the dems would allow a pro life - pro second amendment voter in the party I’d head across the aisle. -
I’m pretty sure Glen Poshard is an alternate delegate to the DNC this year.
- Homebody - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 2:08 pm:
James: You’re entirely welcome to not get abortions if you don’t want to. But if your goal is to prevent other people from controlling their own bodily autonomy, then yeah you will fundamentally have some disagreements with the bulk of the Democratic Party.
- Interim Retiree - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 2:19 pm:
Don Tracy must dislike Jan Weber by appointing her the chair of the search committee, lol.
- Stormsw7706 - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 3:40 pm:
Delmar is promising to turn all the Democrats into toads before the Presidential election.
- Primate - Thursday, Jun 20, 24 @ 7:15 pm:
The SCC has a choice, The Rauner way or the rigt way.