Illinois GOP to Weigh Making Endorsements in Statewide Primaries
Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy speaks at the “Republican Day” rally at the Illinois State Fair in August.
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Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy says he’s exploring whether the state GOP should continue with a long-standing party policy not to get involved in statewide primaries or if the state GOP should make endorsements in races like governor or U.S. Senate.
The new committee appears for the first time on the agenda for the GOP state central committee meeting scheduled for Saturday in Edwardsville.
Tracy says he’s not advocating for the GOP to get involved in primaries, but says he believes it is a good time to review the long-standing policy. Tracy says the “most significant” races to review are statewide races like Governor and U.S. Senate, but the committee, which hasn’t met yet, has not “narrowed the scope” of the discussion yet.
While the Illinois GOP infrastructure is far smaller than its Democratic counterparts and the party raises far less money than its competition, an endorsement could potentially allow a preferred candidate use of the state party’s postage discount, which essentially cuts the cost of expensive primary mailings in half.
Tracy said the execution of a potential endorsement, and what extent a chosen candidate could utilize part infrastructure, would have to be decided if the state central committee wants to change the policy.
We asked Tracy if the discussion was in response to the 2022 nomination of conservative Darren Bailey, who was given little chance of winning the general election.
Tracy said it would give the party more ammunition in a primary, where billionaire Governor JB Pritzker spent over $30 million to prop up Bailey’s campaign.
“That suggests to some people that our primary was manipulated by opposing forces,” Tracy said. “That would be a reason, certainly, to examine the policy.”
But Tracy’s committee is already facing pushback from inside the state central committee.
“I’m 100 percent opposed,” said State Central Committee member Aaron Del Mar, a former chair of the Cook County GOP and 2022 candidate for Lt. Governor. “This is a smack in the face of grassroots groups in our party. It gives no value to the central committee and makes the donor class stronger.”
It seems unlikely the state party would change its policy for 2024 considering there are no statewide offices on the ballot. But all statewide offices and a U.S. Senate seat are on the ballot in 2026.