BLOOMINGTON – The IL GOP faces yet another interesting political dilemma in 2022 – a year many politicos say could be a banner year for Republicans in reaction to the Biden-Harris Administration's unyielding push towards Leftist, Socialist – some say Communist – public policies.
A viable Republican candidate could solidify the Illinois conservative base and push towards a competitive effort to oust Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in 2022.
But there's a problem. The IL GOP is split – and the numbers for Republicans in Illinois set it into super minority status in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly. The IL GOP leadership is definitely pulling towards the Liz Cheney side of the GOP while the conservative base is solidly looking towards Donald Trump-esque leadership.
This past week, the Bloomington Pantagraph reports, IL GOP "leadership" – as the Pantagraph suggests – met to discuss the future of the IL GOP. Those declaring its future? The likes of former Governor Jim Edgar, former IL GOP Chairman Pat Brady, longtime State Rep Dan Brady and state Senator Jason Barickman.
The group swiped at the downstate movement to oust Chicago, and once again pushed for a "moderate" tone for Illinois Republicans.
Then the Pantagraph listed an array of potential gubernatorial candidates – and included the young state senator as a possibility. A "moderate" possibility.
Barickman is a fiscal conservative, but also voted in favor of cannabis legalization and same sex marriage, perhaps making him a candidate who can appeal to a wider net of voters.
They also mentioned others who have announced their candidacy in the past few months: State Senator Darren Bailey (R-Xenia); former state Senator Paul Schimpf (R-Murphysboro); businessman Gary Rabine; Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville). Others may be interested.
We have three questions here at Illinois Review:
- Would you support a gubernatorial candidate from the Liz Cheney side of the GOP or the Donald Trump side?
- Have you picked your favorite yet?
- Who is it?
Voice your opinion in the comments below… Thanks!
