McCombie a Breath of Fresh Air for Stodgy, Old GOP
New House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savana) during the House Inauguration ceremony January 11.
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OPINION
As new House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) took questions at her first formal news conference of the new General Assembly Tuesday, a reporter harkened back to her predecessor.
“I’m hearing Jim Durkin’s voice in my head,” the reporter said.
“Well, tell him I said hello,” McCombie interrupted to laughter in the Statehouse Blue Room.
McCombie was then asked about former Leader Durkin’s longtime complaints that the GOP was shut out of most important discussions, including on the yearly budget negotiation and how that would change on her watch.
“I’ll keep knocking on the door until they let me in,” McCombie replied.
It’s not a stretch to say Republicans have an image problem. (They do nationally, too, but we limit the scope of this newsletter to the 58,000 square miles of the state of Illinois.)
Most of the people in leadership for the GOP in the state in the past two decades have followed the same pattern: old, white, grumpy men in ill-fitting suits spouting frustration and complaints to whoever will listen. McCombie breaks that mold.
She’s a witty, direct, telegenic, and doesn’t look like most Republicans you see on TV, whether their names are Trump, McConnell, Rauner, or many, many others.
“She’s going to make Democrats tear their hair out,” said one Republican lawmaker when we discussed McCombie a few weeks ago. “We’re going to be able to make arguments that relate to everyone, not just old white guys.”
Whether McCombie can turn good messaging into legislative accomplishments and winning more elections remains to be seen. But maybe she looks at it like she described the budget process Tuesday.
“There’s women in charge now, so we’re going to get some things done,” she said.