* My weekly syndicated newspaper column…

Some Republicans in Illinois have taken to regularly bashing Republican state legislative leaders for seeking support from the Illinois Education Association, a teachers union that has for decades worked to help elect Republicans who are sympathetic to their issues.

With longtime wealthy Republican contributors and fundraisers dying, moving to warmer climes and/or retiring, the IEA and more conservative labor unions can help close the funding and precinct worker gap. But those who do are instantly declared to be persona non grata “Republicans in Name Only” by some folks who want no ties whatsoever with public employee unions.

On the surface, at least, it’s a legitimate policy dispute. Former Gov. Bruce Rauner wiped out years of hard work by the IEA when he insisted that Republican legislators reject the teachers union because he hated public employee unions and believed all Republicans should do the same.

But by relying mainly on money from Rauner and some of his pals, the Republicans lost a more permanent revenue source. Politicians may come and go, but the unions are always there. So when Rauner and his ilk pulled up stakes after suffering humiliating statewide defeats, it was only natural that at least some Republicans would renew their relationships with the IEA and others.

When asked about this schism at the Illinois State Fair’s Republican Day, Senate Republican Leader John Curran pointed out that he lives in a “purple” district and will work with anyone who works with him. Curran said he looks at the members of the IEA who live in his district, not the union itself.

“I think it’s incumbent upon Republicans to represent your districts,” Curran said. “This is a very diverse state. A one-size-fits-all is not the path to ultimate victory and success in this state.

“We have got to reflect the communities we represent, first and foremost. That’s success. It is not a blanket party one way or another.”

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie told my associate Isabel Miller that 46% of the IEA members in her district are Republicans.

“I think you find that in a lot of our rural areas,” she said. “I think, like with every organization, especially as a leader, it’s important that I have a relationship with every organization,” she said, adding that the IEA has “been helpful to the caucus.”

McCombie differentiated the IEA from the National Education Association, however, saying the NEA “has gone too far left for us.”

She said the IEA is different.

Failed 2022 attorney general candidate Tom DeVore has attracted thousands of online followers and regularly attacks both Curran and McCombie for their IEA ties. He’s gone so far as to repeatedly claim that the IEA represents Chicago teachers, even though the Chicago Teachers Union is most definitely not part of the IEA.

DeVore has endorsed a primary opponent against McCombie and against at least one other House GOP member, state Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville.

McCombie and her allies will likely have to spend significant money to defend the leader and Meier — money which could’ve been used to defend against a predicted House Democratic onslaught next fall. That prospect only buttresses McCombie’s claim from earlier this summer that DeVore is a “Democrat operative.”

Whatever he says, the end result is Democrats benefit.

Americans for Prosperity Illinois is expected to go all in for McCombie in the primary. The group will also help her caucus fend off the Democrats next year.

Meanwhile, downstate Republicans often complain that urban Democrats turn up their noses at rural Illinois. During Republican Day, however, Republican DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick made a claim about rural Republicans that could haunt his announced gubernatorial bid.

Like Darren Bailey in the 2022 governor’s race, Mendrick is running for governor on a tough-on-crime agenda. But he said Bailey just didn’t get it.

“He had no ability to really do anything about [crime]. No offense to him, but he’s a farmer,” Mendrick said about Bailey.

That “farmer” crack didn’t sit well with Bailey’s former campaign manager Jose Durbin.

“Taking a swipe at farmers in a state built on agriculture is a strange way to ask for votes — especially in a GOP primary largely made up of rural voters,” Durbin told Isabel. “Perhaps Jim should try other ways to promote his failing campaign. Darren Bailey’s roots in farming mean he knows hard work, responsibility and how to deliver results — exactly what Illinois needs to fight crime and get back on track.”