The blue wave that crashed in Illinois two weeks ago really
wasn’t a surprise to anyone who pays attention to Illinois politics.
Now the leaders and members of the state’s Republican party
need to have some tough discussions.
Because what they’ve been doing isn’t working.
Talking about seceding or creating “New Illinois” is a
fool’s errand. The members of the Illinois GOP have two choices:
- Work smarter and harder
- Leave
While JB Pritzker put his billions where his mouth is and
spent millions to win election and re-election, the reliance on billionaire
bucks is no longer working for Republicans.
Bruce Rauner spent big and won a tough primary in 2014, but
mostly sat on his wallet and was trounced by Pritzker in 2018. He has since
moved to Florida. Billionaire Ken Griffin spent $50 million on his preferred
candidate, Richard Irvin, in the 2022 GOP primary and finished third. Griffin
has also moved to Florida.
Billionaire Richard Uhlein still lives in Illinois, although
he moved his packaging business, U-Line, to Wisconsin. He was the only big
money donor for Republican Sen. Darren Bailey’s failed gubernatorial run,
although he gave most of his money indirectly to a PAC that created ads for
Bailey.
The last Republican governor who won re-election in Illinois
was Jim Edgar in 1994. Although there wasn’t a single mile of highway built in
Illinois during his eight years (that was a local claim years ago, not sure if
there is validity to it), at least he won.
I still don’t know how Rod Blagojevich defeated Judy Baar
Topinka in 2006, btw, but he was the last Democratic governor to win re-election
before Pritzker’s win this year.
Of course, Blago was impeached and Pat Quinn was appointed
governor. If Pritzker serves out his full second term (the White House run
rumors ain’t going away), he would be the first Democrat in Illinois history to
serve eight years as governor. EVER.
Republicans need to recognize that abortion, as detestable
as it is, is legal in Illinois and should be made safe and rare. They need to
make peace with unions and stop doing to bidding of people selling a union
busting platform that will go nowhere.
They need to quit demonizing Chicago because, without it,
Illinois is basically Kentucky, which is a fine state, but Chicago is not going
anywhere and still has about half of the population when you count in the
collar counties.
The Chicago suburbs were once where the state’s Republican
party kept pace. DuPage, Lake and McHenry were GOP strongholds. But a party
that focuses on social issues, crime and saying Chicago sucks doesn’t do much
for people who still like to go there to shop and root for the Bears, Bulls and
Cubs (do people go to Sox or Blackhawk games?).
Yes, crime is a problem, but the good people of Chicago and
Cook County need to vote for a mayor, county board president and
representatives who will solve it. The solution isn’t coming from Springfield
unless something changes downstate.
Republicans need to sell what they will do for the state to
prosper. Some businesses have been returning to Illinois with incentives to
offset some of the high-profile corporate departures, but put forward a plan
that encourages real growth and prosperity.
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Property taxes are a problem, but that is mostly a local
issue. While many local entities tout “flat” rates, they are constantly getting
increased Equalized Assessed Valuations that increase their revenues. If house
sales are booming, then it’s a when for the taxpayer, if that stagnates, that’s
a problem.
Republicans were consistently crushed in the statewide
elections and both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly will have new
leadership. Don Tracy is still in charge of the Illinois Republican Party, but
we will see if he endures.
Yes, many Republican moderates seem to be in it for personal
gain and that affliction has harmed the party for decades. And with no
statewide offices and minimal seats in the General Assembly, the consulting
class crowd also needs to look in the mirror and realize those who don’t agree
with them aren’t second-class citizens. Their snobbery is just as much of a
problem as the true believer crowd.
Calling conservatives “hillbillies” and calling moderates
“RINOs” will only ensure one thing for the Illinois GOP.