From a Friend of McHenry County Blog:
Another view on Republican precinct committeemen
There is currently a Republican “grassroots” slate that is trying to take over the state party next year.
You will hear more about them in coming months — some people, such as Tom DeVore, have gone public and some are still working behind the scenes.
These individuals want to be state central committee members but they have to first get the support of enough precinct committeemen by the time of the county conventions on April 15.
The basic structure of the Illinois Republican party is that people (primary voters) elect people (precinct committeemen) who elect people (state central committeemen) who elect a person (chairman).
In the Illinois Democratic Party, SCC members are directly elected by and accountable to Democratic Party primary voters. It used to be that way in the Illinois Republican Party but was changed sometime around 1988 which was also, maybe coincidentally or maybe not, the last time Republicans won Illinois in a presidential election. Now it is the Republican PC who elect the Republican SCC, not the Republican primary voters.
Since petitions are circulating, I am being bombarded with messages to run for PC. They insist it is “important” and to “think of the state party.”
However, the meme below is a sarcastic take on the situation.
Actually, one should obtain twenty signatures.
The reason for the meme creator’s tongue-in-cheek criticism was because they, unlike many people who didn’t get involved in politics until after COVID, have heard fanciful promises about “taking back the party” and seen numerous iterations of “operation precinct power” going back decades.
That is not an exaggeration.
Decades.
There is nothing new under the sun and there is good reason to be skeptical this time will be different.
The counterargument can be summed up by a meme too.
(Rewards go to those who persevere.)
Perhaps the issue of direct elections for SCC members can be taken up at the 2028 Illinois Republican Convention.
If the change were to happen, I believe it could go into effect by 2030 which would be in time for the next statewide election.
That would be really good because some Republicans, like the vice chair of outreach and education for the McHenry County Republican Party, Jacqueline Garretson, and the “strategists” at Cor Strategies, are already saying publicly that Illinois Republicans will lose in 2026 and the real goal for this cycle is just building.
I’m not sure if it’s strategically wise for them to say that publicly, but they were the ones who put it out there and so now it is out there.
From X.
Last year the issue of direct election of SCC members was not raised at the state convention, yet the “grassroots” took two victory laps celebrating Dean White defeating Mark Shaw for Republican National Committeeman.
You should have seen the delegates at the convention high fiving and cheering each other over that outcome.
You should have heard them whooping and hollering.
Nobody has explained to me why the average Republican voter should care about Dean White or Mark Shaw being on the Republican National Committee.
Most PC I’ve talked to don’t even know who either of them are.
Also, I’m pretty sure the RNC doesn’t give a hoot about Illinois.
President Trump doesn’t like getting involved with Illinois either. He says he doesn’t like losers.
Recently Scott Presler, a Republican who helps register voters, announced major efforts in California, Oregon, and Washington.
Not exactly “purple states.” Presler wants nothing to do with Illinois.
That should give you an idea of how things are going in Illinois for Republicans.
Several organizations peddling a “precinct strategy” will emphasize the structure of the Illinois Republican Party to sell you on running for PC, but I happen to think the main value of PC is in them recommending people for local office and in finding election judges.
Ultimately, the chairman of a state party that is financially broke may not matter much.
Getting more involved in local politics should be reason enough without getting into wonky details about the state party apparatus.
Running for PC is easy. Just do a statement of candidacy and get 10 signatures. As Cal pointed out, get a few more just to be safe.
Please try it.
A petition for precinct committeeperson can be found here.
PS There is at least one SCC member who is literally incontinent so if you are interested in who the higher-ups are, you will definitely want to run for PC.
