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Three contenders finalized for Illinois GOP chair (Updated)

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* Illinois GOP release…

Yesterday, the window to apply to be the next chair of the Illinois Republican Party closed. The applicants for the position are as follows in alphabetical order by last name:

Rep. John Cabello
Aaron Del Mar
Kathy Salvi

A meeting will be held on Friday for applicants to make their case. This meeting is not open to press. When voting occurs, the State Central Committee will decide based on a weighted vote system by congressional district. The district with the most Republican ballots cast carries the most weight, and so on down.

…Adding… A split is developing on the far right. Illinois Family Action…

The Illinois Republican State Central Committee (SCC) will be meeting tomorrow to consider how to fill the vacancy left by Chairman Don Tracy, who resigned in June. We are only aware of a couple of candidates who are up for consideration. Of course, we want to see someone who is fully committed to uphold the planks on the sanctity of human life, marriage, family, immigration security and religious liberty.

Therefore, we wholeheartedly endorse Kathy Salvi for the next Illinois GOP chair. In fact, we don’t think we could ask for a better person to serve in that role. The 64-year-old mother of six adult children is the wife of former State Representative Al Salvi (1993-1996), who was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 1996 and Illinois Secretary of State in 1998.

We have complete confidence that Kathy is not only a true conservative, but one who will fight to keep the aforementioned planks in the Illinois GOP Platform.

* Illinois Review…

Angry, Bitter Don Tracy Meddling in IL GOP Chairman’s Race as SSC Rushes Selection to Appoint New State Party Chair

With the Republican National Convention just days away, the Illinois Republican State Central Committee is moving at warp speed to appoint a new state party chairman as Republicans across the state raise concerns about the vetting process and the need for transparency as candidates jockey to be the next leader of the Illinois Republican Party. […]

For the last two years, Salvi has defended outgoing chairman Don Tracy, co-hosted state party fundraisers with Tracy, and was endorsed by gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin during the 2022 election cycle. Irvin was the state party’s favorite candidate – and Tracy’s too, although he won’t admit it – during the 2022 primary, but lost in a landslide to the conservative grassroots-backed candidate by 43 points. And during the primary campaign, it was reported by WTTW’s Paris Schutz that in 2018, Irvin sent text messages calling Trump an “idiot” and a “bigoted racist.” Irvin also texted the friend, “I hate Trump too!”

In conservative circles across the state, many believe that Tracy is propping up Salvi to be his heir apparent, and multiple party insiders have shared with this publication that a backroom deal has been struck that gives Salvi the chairmanship and Jason Plummer – a downstate Republican state senator, the vice chair position. Plummer works closely with Tracy’s sister-in-law, State Sen. Jill Tracy, who serves alongside Plummer in the state senate and is the Senate Republican Whip.

posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 9:15 am

Comments

Did anyone tell them that the Titanic has already hit the iceberg, there aren’t enough lifeboats and even the band has stopped playing?!

Comment by Ugh Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 9:53 am
Three wackadoodles. Cabello seems the least ridiculous choice, as he has at least won some elections.

Comment by DougChicago Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 11:00 am
Kathy Salvi would be great for Democrats. Good luck to her.

Comment by Torco Sign Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 11:32 am
I was expecting and hoping that Jason Plummer would put himself in contention. Now I’m disappointed.

Comment by illini Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 11:48 am
Word is that these choices really spank up the donors and has already motivated the grassroots to volunteer./S This is what they came up with as our best candidates? The SCC knows better and needs to stop this madness immediately. Good luck team!

Comment by Primate Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 1:01 pm
I back Steve “off a cliff” Balich for ILGOP chair. (See article in other thread of this Cap Fax edition for reference). (Also, )

Comment by notyourgramma Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 3:24 pm
If Kathy Salvi isn’t pure enough for these Republicans, no one is.

Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jul 11, 24 @ 4:34 pm