• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Eyes Right Open raises questions as to Trump affliation

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
October 27, 2022
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
0
27
SHARES
453
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

CHICAGO – A political group that calls themselves "Eyes Right Open" and boasts affiliation with President Trump and a statewide following, but have been tough to receive answers from is raising eyebrows. Who are they, who funds them and are they really directly connected to President Trump's re-election effort as some of the activists say they are?

You might also like

GOP Leader Norine Hammond Takes $50K from Liberal Groups Backing Transgender Lessons, Mask Mandates, Anti-Trump Agendas

PillowGate: McCombie and Norine Hammond Face Growing Backlash Over Taxpayer Spending and Political Favoritism

Opinion: Harmeet Dhillon Makes History in Illinois Gun Ban Battle

The group, also referred to as "ERO," has no incorporation filings or political action committee status listed in Illinois. The group's website says they are a 501c4 filed in Ohio.

However, the group claims to have hosted or participated in 96 watch parties throughout the state in June, when President Donald Trump announced his intention to seek re-election in 2020. Facebook pages from conservatives activists throughout the state featured watch party photos – many of which claimed were affiliated with ERO. 

At a conservative leadership meeting in late April at Heartland Institute in Arlington Heights, Illinois, once-Democrat operative Victor Santana shared ERO's intentions to work towards re-electing Trump. Santana, who worked closely with former Cook County Democratic chairman Joe Berrios for many years, now says that he's "seen the light, and wants to help the president get re-elected." 

Santana's business "GLC Hub Club, LLC" was a source of funding for at least two of the Trump watch parties, and he has organized well-known conservative activists from throughout the state – including Will County Board member Steve Balich, Effingham's Susan Petty and Putnam County's Jay DeBates.

Susan Petty posted on her Facebook page over the weekend that she and other volunteers were preparing to open an office in the Effingham area.

Mr. Balich spoke with Illinois Review off the record, but said in June that as of then, no funds had exchanged hands with him, and he was working with the organization with the full intention of helping to re-elect President Trump – something the leadership of the Illinois Republican Party had not done in 2016. 

Once-Congressional candidate Matt Quigley wrote on a Facebook page that he is a founding board member of Eyes Right Open and did so prior to ever having thought about running for office.

"I do not receive any compensation other than the satisfaction of building a more cohesive and active conservative community. The idea behind ERO was to create a grassroots-led conservative movement with a long term plan to promote conservative ideals, we call it the 100-year plan," Quigley wrote. "At its core, we seek to convert non-conservatives into conservatives, like President Trump was able to do with so many Blue-Dog Democrats."

Then Quigley made an important point that all those who signed on to re-elect President Trump may not know: "As a 501c4 we cannot support any candidates. We support bringing conservatives together, growing as a community, and attracting new people to the conservative cause." 

That sounds pretty good to the average ignored and scorned conservative in Illinois. The more energy in the movement, the more likelihood for success. 

Victor Santana responded to Facebook page requests as the group's "executive director" and says he is open to an interview with Illinois Review. 

 

 

Related

Share11Tweet7
Previous Post

State Rep. McDermed will not run for re-election in 2020

Next Post

Was Jesus a Socialist?

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

GOP Leader Norine Hammond Takes $50K from Liberal Groups Backing Transgender Lessons, Mask Mandates, Anti-Trump Agendas

by Illinois Review
October 15, 2025
0
GOP Leader Norine Hammond Takes $50K from Liberal Groups Backing Transgender Lessons, Mask Mandates, Anti-Trump Agendas

By Illinois ReviewIllinois State Representative and Deputy House Republican Leader Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) is drawing sharp criticism from conservatives after campaign finance records revealed she accepted $50,000 from...

Read moreDetails

PillowGate: McCombie and Norine Hammond Face Growing Backlash Over Taxpayer Spending and Political Favoritism

by Illinois Review
October 14, 2025
0
PillowGate: McCombie and Norine Hammond Face Growing Backlash Over Taxpayer Spending and Political Favoritism

By Illinois ReviewA new controversy is stirring within the Illinois Republican Party – one that threatens to undermine its message about fighting corruption and protecting taxpayers. State Rep....

Read moreDetails

Opinion: Harmeet Dhillon Makes History in Illinois Gun Ban Battle

by Illinois Review
October 14, 2025
0
Opinion: Harmeet Dhillon Makes History in Illinois Gun Ban Battle

By Richard Pearson, Executive Director, Illinois State Rifle AssociationIn September, Illinois witnessed a moment that will be remembered for generations. For the first time in history, the United...

Read moreDetails

Pritzker Overspends by $547 Million on Free Health Care for Illegal Aliens – Total Cost to Taxpayers Tops $2.5 Billion

by Illinois Review
October 14, 2025
0
Pritzker Overspends by $547 Million on Free Health Care for Illegal Aliens – Total Cost to Taxpayers Tops $2.5 Billion

By Illinois ReviewIllinois taxpayers have quietly shelled out more than $1.6 billion – and counting – for free health care to illegal aliens under Gov. JB Pritzker’s “migrant...

Read moreDetails

Mayor Johnson Protected by 150 Chicago Cops While Claiming City Is ‘Safe’

by Illinois Review
October 12, 2025
0
Mayor Johnson Protected by 150 Chicago Cops While Claiming City Is ‘Safe’

By Illinois ReviewMayor Brandon Johnson keeps telling Chicago residents their city is “safe.” But his actions tell a very different story.Despite his public confidence, reports indicate that Mayor...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Was Jesus a Socialist?

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

llinois Review LLC Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas General Counsel Scott Kaspar Copyright © 2025 IR Media Corp., all rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

llinois Review LLC Editor-in-Chief Mark Vargas General Counsel Scott Kaspar Copyright © 2025 IR Media Corp., all rights reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?