By Mark Vargas, Editor-in-Chief & Opinion Contributor
Illinois Republicans don’t have the luxury of ignoring failure – not in a state dominated by Democrats, and certainly not within their own leadership ranks.
That’s why Illinois Senate Republican Leader John Curran must act – and act now – to remove Jason Plummer as GOP Caucus Chair.
The facts are no longer in dispute.
A recent FOIA request uncovered by attorney Tom DeVore revealed that Plummer missed 34 days — more than 35 percent of scheduled legislative session days in Springfield — over 2024 and 2025. In a legislature that only meets roughly 50 days per year, that level of absence is staggering.
Put plainly, it’s the equivalent of missing 18 weeks of work annually.
This is effectively a part-time commitment for a full-time leadership title. Showing up is the bare minimum. And yet, Plummer failed to meet even that standard.
But the attendance issue alone is not the full story. It’s part of a broader pattern that raises serious questions about his ability – and willingness – to lead.
Consider one of the most important votes for conservatives in recent Illinois history: the so-called assault weapons ban, formally known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act (HB 5471). When the Illinois Senate passed the measure on January 9, 2023, by a 34-20 vote, Plummer did not vote.
Let that sink in.
He had publicly opposed the legislation, calling it unconstitutional and an overreach. He issued statements criticizing the bill. But when it came time to cast an official vote – to go on record and stand with law-abiding gun owners – he was absent.
No vote. No record. No accountability.
Other Republicans did show up and voted against the ban. Plummer, however, was not there. For someone now serving as Caucus Chair — a position he assumed in early 2026 — that absence is especially troubling.
This wasn’t just any bill. It was a defining moment for Second Amendment supporters across Illinois. And Plummer wasn’t there.
That’s not leadership. That’s evasion.
Since then, Plummer has continued to criticize the law and support legal challenges. But statements after the fact cannot replace action when it matters most. Leadership requires showing up when the vote is called – not issuing press releases afterward.
The question now becomes even more pointed when considering Plummer’s role outside of government.
He is President of his family’s business, R.P. Lumber Co., Inc., which employs roughly 1,000 people across multiple states. What would happen if one of those employees decided to skip 35 percent of their scheduled workdays — the equivalent of 18 weeks per year?
They wouldn’t last long.
No serious business tolerates that kind of absenteeism. No responsible employer would accept it. And yet, Illinois Republicans are being asked to accept it from one of their own leaders.
That double standard cannot stand.
Republicans have rightly criticized Democrats like JB Pritzker for failed leadership, lack of accountability, and policies that hurt families and communities. But those arguments lose their force if Republicans refuse to police their own.
This is a moment of decision.
Senator Curran can either uphold a standard of accountability — and remove Plummer as Caucus Chair — or reinforce the perception that leadership titles matter more than performance.
Jason Plummer’s record, taken in full, is disqualifying.
If Illinois Republicans want to be taken seriously again, they must prove it starts within their own ranks.
Remove him.
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Mark Vargas is the Editor-in-Chief of Illinois Review, the state’s leading source for conservative news and commentary. A political strategist and media personality, Vargas is also a columnist and frequent on-air analyst for Newsmax and formerly co-hosted The StoneZONE with Roger Stone.
In 2025, he was appointed by the White House as a Republican National Committee (RNC) media surrogate, regularly appearing across national television, radio, and digital platforms to advocate for President Donald J. Trump’s policies and advance the broader Republican agenda.
A former civilian official in the Office of the Secretary of War, Vargas completed 14 deployments to Baghdad as part of a U.S. task force focused on economic stabilization and reconstruction. He was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Civilian Service Medal for his service.
He later played a key role in securing presidential clemency for former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and longtime Trump ally Roger Stone – efforts highlighted by The Wall Street Journal.
