By Illinois Review
After Illinois Republicans suffered massive losses on election night, including a governor’s race that was called within minutes of the polls closing, sources confirm to Illinois Review that members within conservative billionaire Richard Uihlein’s inner circle are left “mortified” by the election results.
Uihlein donated a total of $50 million in support of GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey – directing $10 million to Bailey’s campaign and $42 million to a pro-Bailey PAC.
And just weeks before the election, the political consulting class were out promoting a single poll that showed Bailey within “striking” distance and only two points behind Pritzker during the final stretch of the campaign.
The headline read, “Poll: Republican Darren Bailey in Virtual Tie With Illinois Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker.”
But on election night, the governor’s race was called within minutes of the polls closing with the AP declaring Gov. Pritzker the winner at 7:00 pm CDT. The results left Republicans stunned – including many supporters who were still en route to Bailey’s election night party.
A shocked and visibly emotional Bailey would address a much smaller than expected crowd a few hours later to thank his supporters and to admit defeat.
“I just spoke to Gov. Pritzker and congratulated him on his win tonight,” said Bailey. “I may not be going to Springfield as your next governor, but I will never stop fighting for you.”
With 98 percent reporting, Pritzker maintains a 12-point margin of victory over Bailey.
But the election was more than just a bad night for the Uihlein’s and the Bailey’s – it was a bad night for every Republican up and down the ballot. With all the money and attention focused on the governor’s race, many Republican candidates were left penniless and broke – unable to defend themselves from vicious lies and attacks by their opponents.
And many Republican candidates felt abandoned by the IL GOP, despite promises of a red wave and support of their races.
In the end, IL Republicans lost every statewide race; Republicans lost winnable congressional races; and IL House and Senate Republicans suffered debilitating defeats, prompting House GOP leader Jim Durkin, R, to resign the day after the election and Senate GOP leader Dan McConchie, R, to resign less than a week later.
Not only did Democrats maintain their supermajority in both the IL House and Senate, but Republicans remain irrelevant and voiceless on local and state matters.
Illinois Review has publicly called for IL GOP chairman Don Tracy to accept responsibility for the massive losses and resign.
As expected the small, but entrenched GOP establishment is fighting back against a groundswell of statewide, conservative grassroots activists who are demanding that Tracy resign.
And until that happens, both Uihlein, his hard-earned money and Illinois Republicans will continue to be in the minority.
