SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Thursday at the Illinois State Fair was a day entirely dedicated to the Republican Party.
GOP candidates across the ballot stepped up to the lectern, making pitches to their Republican constituents.
“I’m working as hard as I can to make our state great, and to take back our country,” said Mark Rice, GOP candidate for Illinois’ 8th congressional district.
“It’s time as Republicans we stand up and we say no! Enough is enough!” said Niki Conforti, GOP candidate for Illinois’ 6th congressional district.
Bob Fioretti, a GOP candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, used his time at the mic to lament the left’s stance on crime.
“The Democratic view of crime is what?” Fiortetti said. “Well, the criminal defendant is a the good guy, the police are the bad guys and the victims, they don’t count.”
Republican hopefuls in the State of Illinois like these three are also turning to Mundelein attorney Kathy Salvi, who was charged with taking the helm of the Illinois GOP earlier this summer.
“Our fight, fight, fight is at the ballot box this November 2024,” Salvi said at the state fair Thursday.
While Salvi leads a rebuilding organization and aims to unite Donald Trump conservatives with moderate Republicans, the north suburban attorney is also working to fill up the party’s campaign coffers, which have been left low after former Governor Bruce Rauner and Citadel chief Ken Griffin moved out of state.
“We’ve got to grow those small dollar donors that believe the way we do and get them to invest locally first and then roll that up,” said Jeannie Ives, a former Illinois State Representative.
GOP members at the state fair also capitalized on talking up Trump, with the Democratic National Convention set to take over Chicago next week.
“The left is so exited that they have a candidate with a pulse, that’s a fairly lower bar,” said Mark Whitaker, former acting U.S. Attorney General. “We have a president who not only had a pulse, he has a fire inside of him to save this country.”
To connect with voters, Republicans have simplified their message, choosing to focus on a better economy, a secure southern border and safer communities. With the tweak, the GOP aims for small gains in November, with the governor’s contest in 2026 being the real prize down the line.
“This is about the Republican turnout,” said Illinois House GOP Leader Toni McCombie. “Because for us, it’s about the next governor’s race because if we can show we can have a great turnout, we’re going to get a great Republican candidate.”