Shakeup in House GOP
Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) stepped aside as chairman of the House GOP campaign arm.
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In a little noticed filing on September 1, the House Republican campaign arm, House Republican Organization, removed Rep. Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena) as its chairman, replacing him with the former chair, Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria).
Spain was chairman when the House GOP campaign arm during the 2022 cycle and was replaced by Ozinga in February.
Ozinga, one of the top fundraisers in the caucus, has been focusing time on an outside group called “Big Tent Coalition,” aimed at helping Republicans work on more mainstream issues. We’re told there’s been some frustration among conservatives in and out of the caucus regarding Ozinga’s multiple fundraising responsibilities. But the House GOP insists the decision to step aside from HRO was solely Ozinga’s.
Ozinga did not return a message from The Illinoize Wednesday.
In a text, Spain said Ozinga wanted to focus on the Big Tent Coalition efforts.
“[Tim] is going to focus on building grassroots infrastructure for our Republican candidates though the Big Tent Coalition,” he said. “He nominated me to move from [an] at large board member (of HRO) back to chairman.”
Republicans are defending seven seats won by President Biden in 2020 and have numerous incumbents tallying lagging fundraising numbers.