SPRINGFIELD – The delegates lining up behind GOP presidential candidate former Governor Jeb Bush are notable names from the Illinois Republican Party establishment wing, ranging from former party finance committee chairman Ron Gidwitz to former Governor Jim Edgar and several IL GOP State Central Committee members.
Despite former presidential candidate Mitt Romney's warnings he reports he gave to the former governor, some Illinois notables' names will appear on the ballot associated with Bush.
“Jeb, to be very honest, I think it’s very hard for you to post up against Hillary Clinton and to separate yourself from the difficulty of the W. years and compare them with the Clinton years,” Romney recalled telling Bush, referring to former President George W. Bush’s administration.
A Clinton-Bush election “would be too easy for the Democrats,” Romney told the Post.
Jeb Bush supporters whose names will appear on the March 15th GOP primary ballot in their respective congressional districts as delegates, despite Bush's thus far very low poll numbers include:
- Former Governor Jim Edgar
- Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Senator Bill Brady
- Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard
- Congressman Adam Kinzinger
- State Central Committee members John Dorgan, Carol Smith Donovan, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar
- Former IL GOP finance committee chairmen Ron Gidwitz and Tyrone Fahner
- State Senators Chris Nybo and Karen McConnaughey
- Mayors Skip Saviano (Elmwood Park), Rodney Craig (Hanover Park)
- Illinois Manufacturing Association lobbyist Greg Baise
- Former DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom
- Publisher Brian Timpone
- Former Chicago GOP Chairman Adam Robinson
- Former State Rep. Raymond Poe
- Former Bremen Township GOP Chairman Patrick Rea
Other active Republican Party leaders have indicated their support for Ohio Governor John Kasich – although Kasich's campaign has not yet presented ballot petitions as of 2:30 PM Monday.
Those ILGOP leaders that have declared their support Kasich include Senate Minority Leader Chris Radogno and the following:
- Dan Cronin, DuPage County Board Chairman
- Dave Syverson, Illinois State Senator, 35th District
- Ed Sullivan, Illinois House of Representatives, 51st Distrct
- David Harris, Illinois House of Representatives, 53rd District
- Ron Sandack, Illinois House of Representatives, 81st District
- Tom Demmer, Illinois House of Representatives, 90th District
- Randy Frese, Illinois House of Representatives, 94th District
- Jim Schultz, Director, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Chairman, Citizens for Rauner
- Pat Brady, former Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party
- Sean Morrison, Cook County Commissioner, 17th District
Leadership Team:
- Aaron Del Mar, Chairman of the Cook County Republican Party
- Seth McMillan, Chairman of the Christian County Republican Party
- Jerome Groniger, Chairman of the Coles County Republican Party
- Liz Gorman, former Cook County Commissioner, 17th District
- Cory Jobe, Director, Illinois Office of Tourism, Ward 6 Alderman
- John Farney, Champaign County Auditor
- Kristy Stephenson, City Treasurer, City of Metropolis
More HERE.
