Illinois Republican Party

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Illinois Republican Party
ChairpersonTim Schneider
Senate LeaderChristine Radogno
House LeaderJim Durkin
HeadquartersSpringfield, Illinois
IdeologyConservatism
Fiscal conservatism
Social conservatism
National affiliationRepublican Party
ColorsRed
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
Justices on Court
3 / 7
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.

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. With the exception of 2010, a disastrous election year nationally for Democrats, Illinois Democrats have consistently gained more and more power in every election year in Illinois since the mid-1990s. In the 2014 Gubernatorial election, Republican nominee Bruce Rauner defeated incumbent Governor Pat Quinn 50.8% - 45.9% to be the first GOP Governor since Jim Edgar left office in 2003.

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[citation needed]
Victor L. Smith 1960–1973[1]
Donald "Doc" Adams 1973–1988[1]
Al Jourdan 1988–1993[2]
Harold Byron Smith 1993–1999[3]
Richard S. Williamson 1999–2002[4]
Lee A. Daniels 2001–2002[5]
Dallas Ingemunson 2002 (interim)[6]
Gary MacDougal 2002–2002[7]
Judy Baar Topinka 2002–2005[8]
Andrew McKenna 2005–2009[9]
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

U.S. House of Representatives

Statewide offices

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Chicago Sun-Times. Does Anyone Want GOP Leadership? June 23, 1993
  2. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Jourdan Picked to Head State GOP Party. January 10, 1988.
  3. ^ Chicago Sun-Times. GOP Taps Suburb Businessman (Smith) as State Chairman. July 7, 1993.
  4. ^ Pantagraph - Bloomington, Illinois. Williamson Appointed As State's Top Republican. April 16, 1999
  5. ^ Chicago Sun-Times. Daniels set to lead state GOP. Dave McKinney. November 14, 2001.
  6. ^ Crain's Chicago Business. GOP selects interim chief.(Ingemunson following Daniels). July 15, 2002.
  7. ^ The Southern Illinoisan. Conservative welfare reformer named head of state GOP. July 27, 2002.
  8. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Topinka is Tapped to Lead Illinois Republican Party. November 27, 2002
  9. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Businessman will lead Illinois GOP. January 16, 2005

External links

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