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Dear Illinois Republican Family,
We approach this moment with both humility and determination. While the recent results did not favor our fellow Republicans, this is a pivotal opportunity for reflection and renewal. Now is the time to revitalize our message, support strong candidates, and advance policies that champion economic growth, individual liberty, and government accountability. Your engagement—whether through voting, volunteering, or spreading the word—will be critical to building a stronger, better Illinois.
Low voter turnout significantly impacted our candidates, resulting in outcomes that do not fully reflect the values and priorities of Illinoisans. Unfortunately, candidates backed by Governor JB Pritzker's millions capitalized on this, securing key victories—even in traditionally Republican strongholds like DuPage County and suburban townships. Several township boards have now shifted to Democrat control, all bolstering Pritzker’s positioning as he eyes a 2028 presidential run.
Meanwhile, the Illinois Republican Party was only able to mount a limited response—running digital ads on a bare-bones budget to encourage Hard and Soft Republicans to vote. That’s why our upcoming Red Gala on April 25 at the Schaumburg Renaissance is so vital. The Gala's mission is clear: raise essential funds for our 2026 Get Out The Vote (GOTV) program. A major focus will be on expanding early voting and vote-by-mail (VBM) strategies, which have been proven to boost voter participation by providing flexibility and convenience—ensuring more voices are heard in our democracy.
In the last election cycle, Democrats invested nearly $20 million in early voting, VBM, and GOTV efforts. In contrast, our party was only able to allocate approximately $400,000. This funding gap had a significant impact on close races across the state. Still, thanks to your support and our first Bank Your Vote Gala, we made remarkable progress.
Republicans were the only voting bloc to increase their share of early and mail-in voting from 2020 to 2024. In fact, the Illinois Republican Party boosted early and mail-in turnout among Republicans by 35%. One in four low-propensity Republicans voted before Election Day—the highest rate in state history. For the first time ever in Illinois, low-propensity Republicans outperformed their Democrat counterparts in early and mail voting by 7.6%.
You proved that Republicans can and will vote early. You fortified our election integrity efforts, energized our grassroots, and laid the foundation for lasting success. But we cannot stop here. Now is the time to double down—on outreach, and on unity. The momentum we’ve built must carry us into 2026 and beyond. Together, we can close the gap, compete in every corner of Illinois, and ensure our principles are represented at every level of government. With your continued support, we will not just rebuild—we will rise, stronger and more united than ever.
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🔍 Ensuring True Republican Representation
A review of voting records in Chicago, suburban Cook County, St. Clair County, and East St. Louis revealed that many so-called Republican election judges have a history of voting in Democratic primaries—this is unacceptable. We must do better in ensuring Republican election judge positions are filled by those who uphold our values.
👀 All Eyes on the Ballot
Election integrity starts with you. We need Republican poll watchers to help safeguard our elections. Every effort—big or small—makes a difference.
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