Peoria Standard

Jim Rule, chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans, expressed concerns regarding Democratic influence in Illinois elections. He said that Democrats are injecting substantial funds into the elections and manipulating nonpartisan races, emphasizing the importance for Republicans to remain engaged and counteract these efforts. Rule conveyed these views to Peoria Standard on March 21.

"Democrats are panicking after the 2024 election, and they'll do anything to keep Illinois under their thumb," said Rule. "They're funneling funds into local races, disguising partisan efforts as nonpartisan, and stacking the deck with liberal candidates. Even school board elections are being hijacked to push their agenda. Conservatives must unite and fight back before every level of government is dominated by their policies."

According to Capitol News Illinois, although municipal and school board races in Illinois are officially nonpartisan, the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) is employing partisan strategies. The DPI is backing 270 candidates across the state with training, coaching, and a significant advertising campaign. Critics argue this approach blurs the distinction between nonpartisan governance and party influence. While DPI defends its involvement as necessary, many Republicans perceive it as an attempt to consolidate power. A comprehensive report on the party’s election spending is anticipated in April.

The Daily Herald reported unexpected Republican support in Illinois suburbs during recent elections, alongside reduced Democratic turnout. Over 5.3 million residents participated in the Trump-Harris race, a decline from 6 million in 2020. Although Kamala Harris secured Illinois with 2.85 million votes compared to Trump's nearly 2.4 million, her support in suburban counties decreased significantly from Biden’s numbers in 2020—dropping from 1.66 million to 1.38 million votes. Despite a slight dip in Trump's suburban vote count, he performed better than expected, reflecting a national trend of Republican gains in traditionally Democratic areas.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Donald Trump made notable advances in deep-blue Chicago and Illinois during the 2024 election cycle, securing 22.01% of Chicago’s vote—up from 12.41% in 2016. Statewide, Trump's vote share rose to 45.3%, compared to 38.76% in 2016. He notably won more than half of the votes in Chicago’s 41st Ward on the Far Northwest Side, marking the strongest Republican performance since 1992 within Illinois. Although Harris claimed Illinois' 19 Electoral College votes, Trump's increasing support indicates a gradual Republican shift both within Chicago and statewide.

Jim Rule has been serving as Chairman of the Tazewell County Republicans since his election to the position in Morton back in 2018. According to information available on the organization’s website, Rule is committed to "boosting Republican voter turnout, growing the Party’s membership, and communicating the Party’s positions on issues that matter to Tazewell County voters."