News & Notes from Republican Day
Republicans cheer and hold up signs at Republican DAy at the State Fair. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
NOTE: This story was originally posted for subscribers only. To receive subscriber-only newsletters and content, click here.
Some news, notes, and observations from Republican Day Thursday:
With all of the dissention and bad headlines for the GOP heading into the State Fair, we’re told leaders were very happy with the crowd at the Director’s Lawn. It wasn’t as large as the Dem event the day before, but they didn’t bus people in, either.
The full-on embrace of Donald Trump by the GOP continued. “Thank goodness we have this president [and] this administration in office,” GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said at the morning County Chairs Association and State Central Committee joint meeting. She repeatedly advocated for the “One Big Beautiful Bill” which cuts Medicaid and SNAP funding.
None of the state’s three GOP members of Congress, Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), and Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Hindsboro) were at the Fair Thursday. The State Fairgrounds is in Miller’s district.
You’re probably going to see the GOP double down on illegal immigration if comments from House Republican Leader Tony McCombie are any indication: “Illegal immigrants should not be on the rolls of our Medicaid. They just shouldn’t. They shouldn’t be in the state,” she said. “The governor should repeal the sanctuary state. Our budget problems would go away,” she said.
Illegal immigrants aren’t eligible for Medicaid, by the way. And the legislature repealed the “Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults” program for undocumented adults in July.
One GOP Central Committee member said the party has a “long shot chance” to win the 7th Congressional district being vacated by Congressman Danny Davis. Long shot must be relative, because Kamala Harris won the district by 65 points last year.
All of my State Fair radio interviews can be found here.
As I was walking to my show after the Director’s Lawn rally yesterday, most of the House Republican caucus and a bunch of staff were in line for State Fair famous Vose Corn Dogs. Leader McCombie picked up the tab, I’m told.
Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield), a noted concert hound, attended Sheryl Crow and Snoop Dogg in the grandstand this week. He’s going to The Chainsmokers tonight, too.
