McCombie Claims to Have the Votes to be Next House GOP Leader
Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savana) claims to have the votes to replace Jim Durkin as House Minority Leader. If she were successful, she would be the first GOp Leader from outside the Chicago media market since the late 60’s.
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Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savana) confirmed Thursday night she is a candidate to replace House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and claimed she has secured the votes necessary to win a party caucus next week.
McCombie challenged Durkin following the 2020 election and later fell in line with Durkin after her challenge fell short. She has served in the chamber since 2017 after winning a seat away from Democrats in 2016. If selected, McCombie would be the first female House Republican Leader and first Leader from outside the Chicago media market since the late 60’s.
“I have secured the majority needed and look forward to the vote next week,” she sent via text late Thursday night.
It appears McCombie may have beaten back potential challenges from Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) and Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills).
Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) sent a letter to the Republican caucus Thursday night asking to be considered for House Republican Leader. You can see Ozinga’s letter here. Ozinga, who works with his family’s long running concrete business, recently added $1 million of personal money to his campaign account in a sign of fundraising strength.
“What we need now more than ever is servant leadership. Rebuilding this organization and getting everyone rowing in the same direction will require a team effort, not an individual one,” Ozinga wrote to his colleagues Thursday. “I promise to lead with integrity, work together to establish a vision and long-term strategy, create a healthy culture, and give people the autonomy and freedom to use their gifts and talents to the best of their abilities.”
Ozinga has not returned multiple calls from The Illinoize.
Rep. Marty McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) is also widely expected to make a play for Leader. McLaughlin wouldn’t directly confirm his candidacy when we spoke to him Thursday night, but said he wants to be “part of the solution and part of the team.”
“An open process is healthy and overdue,” McLaughlin said. “If we’re going to go in a new direction, we need a better method and a new way of doing business. I’m all for changing the way we do things.”
It appears McCombie is the choice of Durkin’s team, who, we’re told, has been working the phones in support of her candidacy since Durkin announced Wednesday he wouldn’t seek another term as Leader.