* Tribune…

At Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair last month, Bailey made a pitch for party unity. That same day, his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, a member of the governing Republican State Central Committee, made an unsuccessful closed-door pitch for $150,000 from the state GOP for get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of the statewide ticket. His request was rejected because no plan existed on how to spend the money.

Just days ago, Del Mar appeared in a Facebook video with Thomas DeVore, the party’s unsuccessful 2022 attorney general candidate whose law license was suspended for 60 days last year for various infractions, including having a sexual relationship with a client. Del Mar vented his frustrations with the state GOP.

In the video, DeVore noted that new state GOP Chair Bob Grogan, the former DuPage County auditor, serves as treasurer of the campaign fund of Ted Dabrowski, whom Bailey defeated for the 2026 GOP governor nomination. DeVore said rather than help Bailey, Grogan wants to help Dabrowski become the 2030 nominee.

“I would like to think that that’s not true,” Del Mar told DeVore of Grogan as they sipped bourbon. “I have my concerns certainly.”

* The DeVore angle brings us to this…

* From Mr. DeVore…

* Center Square regarding Rep. Severin’s post…

The post had more than 500 comments, many of which included threats and hateful sentiment against Severin, believing the caption that claimed Severin was endorsing Pritzker’s third gubernatorial run.

Public sentiment in the comments of Severin’s post addressing the false image largely supported him, with many of the nearly 200 comments expressing they wouldn’t see an issue with the second image if it were real.

The lawmaker denied that he endorsed or would endorse Pritzker when asked.

I ain’t even going in there to look.

* As far as the state party stuff, the party and the statewide ticket should’ve been working together on a plan for months. Nobody apparently thought to do anything, or try harder.

Then again, $150K wouldn’t do much.