Candidates out in force for Republican Day at IL State Fair

On Thursday a full slate of candidates and hundreds of GOP supporters gathered to celebrate Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. 

“Restore Illinois” and “Fire Pritzker” were key messages during the day-long rally.

Illinois Republicans want to push a message of unity going into November.

Gubernatorial challenger and State Sen. Darren Bailey made a grand entrance to Thursday’s rally and BBQ lunch driving in on a friend’s tractor.

Now eighty days before the election, Bailey is trying to fill up his campaign coffers and bring skeptical establishment Republicans on board.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Secretary of State candidate Rep. Dan Brady said they’ll support the GOP ticket while dodging questions about endorsing Bailey.

Several Republicans unified in their opposition to Gov. JB Pritzker. Many felt the governor is using his office as a launching pad for a presidential run. They also stressed that the state needs real leadership.

Durkin highlighted corruption within the Democratic Party and said the Republican Party is supporting police more than Illinois Democrats.

He also stressed that there are 106 Republicans on the ballot for House seats, breaking the previous record of 76 candidates in 1994.