By Illinois Review
On Wednesday evening, the President Donald Trump-aligned conservative grassroots – the heart and soul of the Illinois Republican party, secured impressive victories during County GOP conventions – as Republican voters sent a clear message to the out-of-touch establishment that the tide is turning and that power is returning back to the people.
In Cook County, incumbent GOP chairman Sean Morrison maintained his grip on power despite years of poor election results – defeating Dr. Eric Wallace by a large margin – 81,402 to 12,100, while an additional 237 votes were cast as “present.” Chicago continues to have many vacant wards, and several townships did not attend the convention. Wallace is widely respected amongst conservatives, and if elected, he would have become the first African American to serve as Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.
In 2023, the Cook County GOP couldn’t recruit or fund a single candidate to run for Chicago mayor in a town of 2.6 million residents, and at one point had 18 vacancies for the position of Chicago ward committeeman under Morrison’s leadership. On the eve of the Cook County Republican Central Committee Convention, Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts endorsed Dr. Wallace for chairman, issuing a statement exclusively to Illinois Review late Tuesday afternoon that left Morrison and establishment Republicans in shock, writing,
“I have known Eric for years and think very highly of him. Illinois Republicans should be excited he is getting more involved, and he will be an asset to the party. That is why I am endorsing him for Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.”
In 2019, President Donald Trump selected Ricketts to serve as Finance Chairman for Trump Victory. Ricketts was also listed as a co-chair for the Palm Beach fundraiser a few weeks ago that raised a record $50.5 million for President Trump’s presidential campaign.
Disgraced Chicago Republican Party Chairman Steve Boulton – a close ally and friend of Morisson, is digging in his heels and attacking this publication for reporting that in 2016, he compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler – calling the revelations a “smear campaign” as party officials, including state party chairman Don Tracy, Illinois Republican National Committeeman Richard Porter and Morrison, remain silent – failing to call out Boulton for his despicable comment. And yesterday, Morrison appointed Boulton to serve as “Legal Counsel” during last night’s convention – a sign that he is sticking by his friend.
In McHenry County, the grassroots dominated last night’s election for executive board. Jeff Thorsen will remain Chair of the McHenry County GOP, while newcomer’s Kirk Donald, who ran unopposed will become the new Vice Chair. Additionally, John Pletz was elected Treasurer and Mark Seaquest, Secretary. Sources confirm that as soon as Thorsen was elected, the anti-grassroots slate fell apart. McHenry County will also be sending 19 delegates to the state convention – the most to sign up in decades.
In a sign of unity amongst several grassroots organizations, the nomination of Thorsen came from Bruce Johnson of We the People of McHenry County and it was seconded by Kelly Eagan of McHenry County Conservatives United. McHenry County Conservatives United will be coordinating efforts with various political action committees and grassroot organizations across the county to make certain that McHenry County remains a grassroots county for the foreseeable future.
And in Will County, Christina Clausen – a Donald Trump delegate, secured her position as the new chairwoman of the Will County Republican Central Committee, garnering an impressive victory with 12,220 votes to her opponent’s 6,535 – leaving former Illinois State Rep. Tim Ozinga and his allies in shock and disbelief. Clausen’s victory over Ozinga signals a significant shift towards a conservative agenda. An unapologetic America First patriot, Clausen has been embraced by the party’s conservative grassroots base for her dedication to the conservative cause.
More than a week ago, Ozinga abruptly resigned his state representative seat. His decision to resign was brought about by several contentious issues during his time in office – most notably, his vote in favor of allowing non-U.S. citizens, including DACA recipients, to become police officers capable of arresting American citizens – sparked considerable outrage among conservatives. This legislation was viewed by many as a significant departure from traditional conservative values, emphasizing national security and strict immigration control.
Furthermore, Ozinga’s involvement in the April 4, 2023 election manipulation added another layer of controversy. During a crucial meeting of the Will County Republican Central Committee, it was revealed that the Illinois GOP, allegedly with Ozinga’s knowledge, had used party resources to undermine conservative grassroots candidates. The presentation of mailers at the meeting, which were approved to benefit less conservative candidates at a significantly reduced postage cost, confirmed suspicions about Ozinga’s participation in these divisive tactics. This incident severely damaged his credibility and trustworthiness among party members, culminating in his decision to step down amid growing calls for accountability and transparency.
The Illinois Republican Party State Convention is May 24-25 in Collinsville.
