Illinois Republican Party

Illinois Republican Party
Chairperson	Tim Schneider
Senate Leader	Christine Radogno
House Leader	Jim Durkin
Headquarters	Springfield, Illinois
Ideology	American Conservatism
National affiliation	Republican Party
Colors	Red
Seats in the Senate	19 / 59
Seats in the House	47 / 118
Statewide Offices	2 / 6
US Senate (Illinois Seats)	1 / 2
US House (Illinois Seats)	6 / 18
Website
ILGOP.org

The Illinois Republican Party is the state-level affiliate of the Republican Party in Illinois. Since May 17, 2014, it has been chaired by Tim Schneider. The party is one of two legally established, statewide political parties in Illinois, the other being the Democratic Party. Illinois's Governor-elect, Bruce Rauner and Junior Senator, Mark Kirk, are members of the party.

History

The Illinois Republican Party was organized at a conference held in Major's Hall in Bloomington on May 29, 1856. Its founding members came from the former Whig Party in Illinois after its members joined with several powerful local political factions including, notably, the Independent Democrat movement of Chicago that helped elect James Hutchinson Woodworth Mayor in 1848.

The early Illinois Republican party enjoyed many members from commerce who shared the vision of Illinois generally, and Chicago in particular, as a gateway to the Western frontier of the United States. The early party members quickly identified their shared anti-slavery sentiment which further differentiated them from the older parties based on the East Coast. Many early members of the party failed to gain statewide office or election to the United States Congress due to this anti-slavery view, although this early position of the party in Illinois would later propel several candidates to prominent office, including the Governorship of Illinois won by Richard Yates, and in the mid-1850s, the election of former Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth to one term in the United States House of Representatives.

On May 9–10, 1860 the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur. At this convention Abraham Lincoln received his first endorsement for president of the United States. Until 1932, Republicans had virtually complete control over Illinois politics. From 1932 to 1994, Republicans still usually had more control over Illinois politics, although Democrats still had a presence in the state and many noted Democratic politicians, most notably Aldai Stevenson, came from Illinois. By the mid-1990s, though, Illinois had started to become more Democratic for both state and federal elections, in a large part because the GOP's Southern Strategy had alienated many Northeastern and Midwestern Republican voters. In 1994, Democrats gained control of the Illinois House of Representatives. Illinois rapidly became more Democratic in the second half of the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2003, Illinois GOP power died when a Democrat became Illinois governor for the first time in 26 years and Democrats gained control over the Illinois Senate.

The 2010 elections saw the election of Illinois Republican Mark Kirk to the US Senate as well as a Republican sweep of Illinois US House seats. Republicans came within 5 seats of a majority in the Illinois House of Representatives and gained seats in the Senate. Republican nominee Bill Brady narrowly lost the gubernatorial election to Pat Quinn, leaving Democrats in full control of the redistricting process. This resulted in gerrymandering heavily in favor of Democrats. As a result of the redistricting process, Illinois Republicans suffered huge losses in the 2012 elections.

In the 2014 gubernatorial election, Republican nominee Bruce Rauner defeated incumbent Governor Pat Quinn to be the first GOP Governor since George Ryan left office in 2003. Republicans also picked up two Illinois congressional seats and a seat in the Illinois Senate.

Organization and leadership

The Illinois Republican Party is run by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, which consists of 18 members, one representing each of the state's congressional districts.

Past Chairmen (partial list)

Chairman	Term
Rebecca Paul	co-chairman ~1985 with Adams
Victor L. Smith	1960–1973
Donald "Doc" Adams	1973–1988
Al Jourdan	1988–1993
Harold Byron Smith	1993–1999
Richard S. Williamson	1999–2002
Lee A. Daniels	2001–2002
Dallas Ingemunson	2002 (interim)
Gary MacDougal	2002–2002
Judy Baar Topinka	2002–2005
Andrew McKenna	2005–2009
Pat Brady	2009–2013
Jack Dorgan	2013–2014
Tim Schneider	2014–present

Current elected officials

The Illinois Republican Party controls two of the six statewide offices. Republicans also hold one of the state's U.S. Senate seats and 6 of the state's 18 U.S. House seats.

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

• Mark Kirk

U.S. House of Representatives

• Peter Roskam, 6th District
• Rodney L. Davis, 13th District
• Randy Hultgren, 14th District
• John Shimkus, 15th District
• Adam Kinzinger, 16th District
• Aaron Schock, 18th District

Statewide offices

• Governor - elect: Bruce Rauner
• Lt. Governor - elect: Evelyn Sanguinetti
• Comptroller: Judy Baar Topinka
• Treasurer: Dan Rutherford

See also

• Government of Illinois

External links

• WeAreIllinois.org, the Republican Party of Illinois website
• illinoiscrs.org, Illinois College Republican Federation website