McCombie Tells Members She Has The Votes to Remain Leader
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna)
House Republican Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) has told multiple members of her caucus she has secured enough votes to remain leader of her caucus for another two years while challengers continue to circle.
Multiple House Republicans say McCombie has told them she has secured 21 votes in her caucus to remain Republican leader, more than a majority required of what will be a 33 or 34 member caucus in January. (One House race is still outstanding.)
McCombie did not return a message from The Illinoize Monday night.
Meanwhile, a group of 13 Republicans circulated a letter late last week asking for Leadership elections to be delayed. They’re currently scheduled for next Tuesday. It’s unclear if the letter was actually sent to McCombie, but she had received a copy of the draft being circulated, we’re told.
“After stunning election losses on Tuesday night, many members of the caucus were astonished to receive your letter Wednesday morning calling for a leadership vote on the first day of veto session,” the letter read. “We have had little time to analyze our historic losses let alone consider the vitally important decision of Minority Leader for the 105th GA. With all due respect, we believe the first opportunity we have to caucus in person should be reserved to discuss openly and in detail our way forward. The vote on Leader can come later, there is no reason to rush this decision.”
The letter, signed mostly by downstate conservatives who have quarreled with McCombie at times, was seen by McCombie supporters as a way to delay the vote long enough to build support for a potential challenger.
Rep. Regan Deering R-Decatur) has been calling members in recent days to show interest in the job, multiple members say. Deering, an heiress to the ADM-connected Andreas family, lost a race for Congress in 2022 and was elected to the House in 2024. She starts her second term in Springfield in January.
“She doesn’t know how to do the job yet. I don’t think she’s realized what goes into the Leader job,” one Republican said of Deering. “I don’t think there’s any way she gets the votes.”
Deering has not returned messages from The Illinoize. Deering returned our call Tuesday morning. She did not comment on the record about our story.
While Republicans continue to chatter behind the scenes, even some members who signed the letter say they aren’t opposed to McCombie remaining in her position, as long as she has a plan moving forward.
“We all know why we lost, but there has to be some accountability and some change. If she can’t convince the caucus that she’s that change, I’m waiting to see if anyone will come forward,” said one House Republican on the condition of anonymity. “I just think a lot of conversations need to be had and I hope there is room for that. This started off as requests by well meaning members and it seemed to have morphed into something else.”
McCombie has also reportedly told members she plans to elevate Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont), a major player in suburban politics who also serves as the Mayor of Rosemont, to Deputy Republican Leader. He would replace Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), who lost a primary in March and is leaving the General Assembly.
The move has drawn wide praise inside the caucus.
Leadership elections remain scheduled for next Tuesday, the first day of the fall veto session.
