By Illinois Review
A conservative grassroots challenger has taken the Illinois Republican Party to court, alleging a coordinated scheme to illegally use nonprofit postage discounts to benefit embattled State Rep. Norine Hammond during a contested Republican primary – a practice Illinois Review first uncovered more than three years ago.
On January 28, 2026, Citizens for Josh Higgins filed a verified complaint in Henderson County Circuit Court (9th Judicial Circuit) seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the Illinois Republican Party, party chair Kathleen Salvi, party general counsel John Fogarty Jr., executive director Matthew Janes, the House Republican Organization (HRO), HRO chair Amy Elik, and Citizens for Hammond, Hammond’s campaign committee. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Thomas DeVore of DeVore Law Offices, LLC.
In addition to the complaint, plaintiffs have filed an emergency motion for a preliminary injunction. A court hearing on the motion has been scheduled, with plaintiffs seeking to immediately halt the alleged practice ahead of the Republican primary.
The lawsuit alleges violations of U.S. Postal Service nonprofit mail standards, which strictly limit who may lawfully use discounted nonprofit mailing rates in elections.
According to the complaint, the Illinois GOP is a qualified political committee authorized to use a nonprofit mail indicia. Hammond’s campaign committee and the House Republican Organization, however, are not qualified under USPS standards and are prohibited from sending political mail at discounted nonprofit rates.
Plaintiffs allege the Illinois GOP nevertheless allowed Hammond unlawful access to its nonprofit mail indicia, dramatically reducing her mailing costs while her conservative challenger, Josh Higgins, was forced to pay full postage rates exceeding 40 cents per mailer.
The allegations echo reporting by Illinois Review dating back to the 2022 election cycle, when the outlet uncovered that the Illinois GOP selectively allowed establishment candidates to benefit from the party’s nonprofit postage privileges.
At the time, state party officials acknowledged that gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin was permitted to use party-backed mailings at discounted rates – while other Republican primary candidates were denied the same access.
That reporting triggered scrutiny from postal officials and highlighted what Illinois Review described as a pattern of party leadership using nonprofit privileges to tilt contested primaries in favor of preferred candidates.
In the current case, court filings outline a series of financial transfers plaintiffs argue demonstrate a similar scheme.
Between April 2025 and January 2026, Hammond’s campaign allegedly transferred $32,780 to the House Republican Organization. On January 16, 2026, the HRO then advanced $50,000 to the Illinois GOP.
The complaint alleges those funds were earmarked to cover mailing costs, or provide consideration, for political mail sent on Hammond’s behalf.
On or about January 26, 2026, the Illinois GOP allegedly mailed a campaign piece supporting Hammond bearing the party’s nonprofit mail indicia. The filing states the mailer was approved by Fogarty and Janes and would not have been sent absent the $50,000 transfer.
The arrangement allegedly allowed Hammond’s mail to be sent at less than 20 cents per piece – a cost advantage unavailable to Higgins, who paid standard rates because his campaign is not eligible for nonprofit postage discounts.
Citizens for Higgins argues the conduct violates USPS Standard 1.6.10, which prohibits nonprofit mailings when a candidate or non-qualified entity pays for, prepares, or provides consideration for the mailing.
The lawsuit seeks a declaratory judgment and court orders barring the practice from continuing. Party officials named in the lawsuit have not publicly responded to the allegations as of publication.
