Sources: IL GOP in Panic Mode, Promising Uihlein Money to Silence Opposition of Embattled Chair Don Tracy

By Illinois Review

Multiple sources confirm to Illinois Review this morning that over the weekend, IL GOP State Central Committee members were calling constituents who expressed interest in attending Saturday’s State Central Committee meeting, and asking them to refrain from making public comments and calling for embattled chairman Don Tracy to resign.

All of this while promising those constituents that more money would be flowing to the IL GOP from conservative mega donor and billionaire Richard Uihlein if Tracy remained in place as chairman.

This past election, Uihlein donated over $50 million to support Darren Bailey’s campaign for governor – directing $10 million to Bailey and $42 million to a pro-Bailey PAC.

In 2018, Uihlein bankrolled Jeanne Ives’ race to defeat incumbent establishment, Gov. Bruce Rauner, R – donating $2.5 million.

In July, Ives was elected to serve on the State Central Committee, representing the 3rd District.

Just last month, sources confirmed to Illinois Review that members within Uihlein’s inner circle were “mortified” by November’s election results. After donating more than $50 million to support Bailey, the election would be called by the Associated Press at 7:00 pm CST, despite the political consulting class promoting a single poll that said Bailey was within two points of Pritzker in the final stretch of the campaign.

With 98 percent reporting, Pritzker maintains a 12-point margin of victory over Bailey.

The next State Central Committee meeting is Saturday, December 10th at the Bolingbrook Golf Club.