Illinois GOP Shifts Focus from Trump to State Fair Strategies

Illinois Republicans attending the state fair largely avoided discussing the impact of a potential Donald Trump presidential nomination on their party's efforts to regain political influence in a state dominated by Democrats. However, they acknowledged the need to address abortion rights, which played a significant role in Democratic victories last year. Party leaders emphasized the importance of countering Democratic messaging on abortion and portraying them as extreme on the issue. They also emphasized the need to focus on local Illinois issues rather than national ones, and to win back suburban voters. Internal party infighting and the Trump factor remain challenges for the GOP as they seek to revive their party in a state where Democrats hold all statewide offices and majorities in the General Assembly and state Supreme Court.