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44-794: The Illinois Republican Party was organized at the Bloomington Convention in Major's Hall in Bloomington on May 29, 1856. Its founding members came from the former Whig Party in Illinois after its members joined with several powerful local political factions including, notably, the Independent Democrat movement of Chicago that helped elect James Hutchinson Woodworth Mayor in 1848. According to The Cook County Album of Genealogy, Francis Schweinfurth Sr., who had emigrated with his family from Germany,

88-510: A Republican sweep of Illinois US House seats. Republicans came within 5 seats of a majority in the Illinois House of Representatives and gained seats in the Senate . Republican nominee Bill Brady narrowly lost the gubernatorial election to Pat Quinn , leaving Democrats in full control of the redistricting process. This resulted in gerrymandering heavily in favor of Democrats. As a result of

132-886: A Republican. By 1850, the Democratic Party had emerged as the leading political party in the United States. An uncertain stance on slavery led to the demise of the main Democratic competitor, the Whig Party . The slavery debate was briefly quelled by the Compromise of 1850 , which settled several questions about the legality of slavery in new territories. However, the Kansas–Nebraska Act , proposed four years later, reignited tensions. The act would create two new territories and determined that slavery status there would be determined by

176-592: A convention against slavery, but struggled to convince political allies to join. Lincoln countered Douglas' defense of the act, and went on to debate him in seven other cities in 1858 . Fueled by support in the central and northern parts of the state, the Opposition Party secured enough support to send Lyman Trumbull to the US Senate in place of Shields. Elihu B. Washburne , James H. Woodworth , James Knox , and Jesse O. Norton were elected to US Congress on behalf of

220-614: A moderate swing back to the party in terms of votes, however this did not lead to major seat gains. The party lost one seat in the State Senate and gained one in the State House. However State Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride was defeated in his bid for retention with the intention of flipping the seat to the Republicans in 2022. Schneider stepped down as chairman in December 2020 and

264-526: A popular vote of residents. Illinois had been a free state since its inception. The Kansas–Nebraska Act was designed by Senator Stephen A. Douglas and supported by his colleague James Shields , both Democrats. William Alexander Richardson led support of the bill in the United States House of Representatives , but failed to win the support of Democratic representatives Long John Wentworth and William Henry Bissell , as well as all Whigs. The act

308-401: A report in 2001 calling for the revival of cumulative voting, in part because it appears that such a system increases the representation of racial minorities in elected office. The Chicago Tribune editorialized in 1995 that the multi-member districts elected with cumulative voting produced better legislators. Others have argued that the now-abandoned system provided for greater stability in

352-546: A resident of the district in which they serve for at least two years. President Abraham Lincoln began his career in politics in the Illinois House of Representatives. The Illinois General Assembly was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The candidates for office split into political parties in the 1830s, initially as the Democratic and Whig parties, until the Whig candidates reorganized as Republicans in

396-498: A second term to Democrats J. B. Pritzker and Juliana Stratton . No Illinois Republican has been elected to the office of Comptroller since 2014, the office of Attorney General since 1998, the office of Secretary of State since 1994, or the office of State Treasurer since 2010. Some of the state's major cities have Republican mayors. As of 2023, Republicans control the mayor's offices in four of Illinois's ten largest cities: Bloomington Convention The Bloomington Convention

440-407: A solidly Republican state. State House of Representatives elected through Cumulative voting from 1870 to 1980. The use of that system was meant to secure a degree of representation for minority blacks and the non-dominant party through use of multi-member districts and special type of multiple voting. From 1870 to 1980, Illinois's lower house had several unique features: The Cutback Amendment

484-472: A superminority in the state legislature. By 2021, the Illinois Republican Party was a minority party wielding little power within the state. With a decline that goes back over two decades, the state GOP's shrinking influence is attributed to Illinois becoming a solid blue state, the loss of voters in suburban areas, and the divisive embrace of Donald Trump and Trumpism . The 2020 Elections saw

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528-511: The 2014 gubernatorial election , Republican nominee Bruce Rauner defeated incumbent Governor Pat Quinn to become the first GOP Governor since George Ryan left office in 2003. Republicans also picked up two Illinois congressional seats and a seat in the Illinois Senate . During the 2018 Illinois Elections , Rauner lost to J. B. Pritzker in a landslide with the party also losing two congressional seats (Roskam and Hultgren) and becoming

572-480: The Constitution of the United States , in all its provisions regarding it, as the sacred bond of our Union and the only safeguard for the preservation of the rights of ourselves and our posterity. Resolved, That we are in favor of the immediate admission of Kansas as a member of this Confederacy under the constitution adopted by the people of said Territory. Resolved, That the spirit of our institutions as well as

616-476: The 1850s. Abraham Lincoln began his political career in the Illinois House of Representatives as a member of the Whig party in 1834. He served there until 1842. Although Republicans held the majority of seats in the Illinois House after 1860, in the next election it returned to the Democrats. The Democratic Party-led legislature worked to frame a new state constitution that was ultimately rejected by voters After

660-540: The 1862 election, the Democratic -led Illinois House of Representatives passed resolutions denouncing the federal government's conduct of the war and urging an immediate armistice and peace convention, leading the Republican governor to suspend the legislature for the first time in the state's history. In 1864, Republicans swept the state legislature and at the time of Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theater, Illinois stood as

704-578: The Constitution Congress possesses the power to prohibit slavery in the Territories ;; and that, whilst we will maintain all constitutional rights of the South, we also hold that justice, humanity, the principles of freedom as expressed in our Declaration of Independence and our national constitution, and the purity and perpetuity of our Government require that that power shall be exerted to prevent

748-483: The Constitution of our country, guarantees the liberty of conscience as well as political freedom, and that we will proscribe no one by legislation or otherwise on account of religious opinions, or in consequence of place of birth. Lincoln delivered the closing address. The speech was purportedly so captivating that no reporter made a record of it. The address has become known as Lincoln's Lost Speech . The delegates to

792-513: The Government from the unworthy hands which now control it and to bring it back in its administration to the principles and practices of Washington , Jefferson and their great and good compatriots of the Revolution. Resolved, That foregoing all former differences of opinions upon other questions, we pledge ourselves to unite in opposition to the present administration of the Government; that under

836-546: The Illinois House of Representatives is Emanuel Chris Welch , a Democrat from Hillside , who represents the 7th district. The Democratic Party of Illinois currently holds a super-majority of seats in the House. Under the Constitution of Illinois , the office of minority leader is recognized for the purpose of making certain appointments. Tony McCombie , of Savanna , who represents the 89th district, currently holds that post. Both leaders appointed their leadership teams shortly after

880-544: The Opposition, which helped to usher in a national plurality in the lower house. On January 15, 1856, the chairman of the nine existing state Republican Parties called for an informal convention in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , on February 22. Delegates from twenty-four states and four territories attended the event, which officially established a national Republican Party after three sessions. Concurrently, an Editorial Convention

924-580: The Republicans did well in 2002 midterm elections nationwide, the Illinois Republicans lost their majority when a Democrat became Illinois governor for the first time in 26 years and Democrats gained control of the Illinois Senate, putting the party in the minority for the first time in state history. The 2010 elections saw the election of Illinois Republican Mark Kirk to the US Senate as well as

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968-737: The United States. Frank Schweinfurth, according to the Cook County Album of Genealogy, was a major force in nominating Abraham Lincoln. Until 1932, Republicans had virtually complete control over Illinois politics. From 1932 to 1994, Republicans still usually had more control over Illinois politics, although Democrats still had a presence in the state and many noted Democratic politicians, most notably Adlai Stevenson II (lost to Republican Dwight Eisenhower twice), came from Illinois. President Ronald Reagan also came from Illinois, despite living in and serving two terms as Governor of California . The last time Republican carried in presidential elections

1012-400: The convention were: The Democrats had nominated Richardson for governor at their convention earlier that month. The remnants of the Whig party declined to run a candidate. The first Republican National Convention met that June, nominating John C. Fremont for president. Fremont was defeated handily in his bid for president , including in Illinois, but the Republican state ticket in Illinois

1056-404: The current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 representatives elected from individual legislative districts for two-year terms with no limits ; redistricted every 10 years, based on the 2010 U.S. census each representative represents approximately 108,734 people. The house has the power to pass bills and impeach Illinois officeholders. Lawmakers must be at least 21 years of age and

1100-520: The extension of slavery into territory heretofore free. Resolved, That the repeal of the Missouri Compromise was unwise and injurious; an open and aggravated violation of the plighted faith of the States, and that the attempt of the present administration to force slavery into Kansas against the known wishes of the legal voters of that Territory is an arbitrary and tyrannous violation of the rights of

1144-422: The first woman elected to the Illinois House of Representatives (she was elected in the first election in which women could vote or run for election). In 1958, Floy Clements became the first African American woman to serve as state Representative. In 1982, Joseph Berrios became the first Hispanic American state representative. Theresa Mah became the first Asian American to serve in the Illinois House when she

1188-449: The lower house. The Democratic Party won a majority of House seats in 1982. Except for a brief two-year period of Republican control from 1995 to 1997, the Democrats have held the majority since then. The first two African-American legislators in Illinois were John W. E. Thomas , first elected in 1876, and George French Ecton , elected in 1886. In 1922, Lottie Holman O'Neill became

1232-520: The minority in both chambers of the state legislature . Both of Illinois's U.S. Senate seats have held by Democrats since 2017 . Mark Kirk was the last Republican to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. First elected in 2010 , Kirk lost re-election in 2016 to Tammy Duckworth . Out of the 17 seats Illinois is apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives , 3 are held by Republicans: In 2018 , Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti lost their bid for

1276-511: The notable exception of Peter Fitzgerald who won the Senate race in 1998. While this tendency has helped Illinois GOP candidates in the suburbs, it has alienated many conservative voters downstate. Other than a brief majority from 1995 to 1997 as a result of the Republican Revolution , the Republicans have been in the minority in the state House of Representatives since 1982. In 2002, while

1320-704: The party in Illinois would later propel several candidates to prominent office, including the Governorship of Illinois won by Richard Yates , and in the mid-1850s, the election of former Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth to one term in the United States House of Representatives. On May 9–10, 1860 the Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur . At this convention Abraham Lincoln received his first endorsement for president of

1364-515: The people to govern themselves, and that we will strive by all constitutional means to secure to Kansas and Nebraska the legal guaranty against slavery of which they were deprived at the cost of the violation of the plighted faith of the nation. Resolved, That we are devoted to the Union and will, to the last extremity, defend it against the efforts now being made by the dis-unionists of this administration to compass its dissolution, and that we will support

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1408-471: The redistricting process, Illinois Republicans suffered huge losses in the 2012 elections. In 2013, the state party attempted to oust Chairman Pat Brady after he came out in favor of same-sex marriage. Brady would ultimately resign and was briefly replaced by Jack Dorgan. In 2014, Tim Schneider , who was a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, was named the chairman of the state party. In

1452-428: The state constitution. The Illinois House of Representatives also holds the power to impeach executive and judicial officials. A person must be a U.S. citizen and two-year resident of an electoral district of at least 21 years of age to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives. Members of the House cannot hold other public offices or receive appointments by the governor while in office. The current Speaker of

1496-617: The vision of Illinois generally, and Chicago in particular, as a gateway to the Western frontier of the United States. The early party members quickly identified their shared anti-slavery sentiment which further differentiated them from the older parties based on the East Coast. Many early members of the party failed to gain statewide office or election to the United States Congress due to this anti-slavery view, although this early position of

1540-602: Was 1988 , when George H. W. Bush won Illinois by 2.1% marginal points. By the late 1990s, though, Illinois had started to become more Democratic in presidential elections, partly because the Republican's social conservatism in other states had started to alienated many Northeastern and some Midwestern Republican voters. Illinois rapidly became more Democratic in the second half of the 1990s and early 2000s. In contrast, most GOP candidates in Illinois gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races in recent years have been almost indistinguishable from Democrats on both social and fiscal issues, with

1584-561: Was a factor in creating the Illinois Republican Party. he was known as devout Lutheran and a businessman in Chicago. He fought as an officer in the Civil War on the Union side. As a first lieutenant, he was captured and held prisoner of war at Chickamauga. He, with his brother, operated a bread baking business in Chicago. He is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago. The early Illinois Republican Party enjoyed many members from commerce who shared

1628-545: Was a meeting held in Bloomington, Illinois , on May 29, 1856, establishing the Illinois Republican Party . It was an attempt to unite Anti-Nebraska members of the Opposition Party into a single party. The convention adopted a party platform and nominated a ticket led by William Henry Bissell for Governor of Illinois . Bissell would be elected later that year, making him one of the first governors elected as

1672-452: Was found to be ineligible for his position due to a residency requirement, and John Wood was nominated in his place. The following resolutions defining the party platform were approved: Resolved, That foregoing all former differences of opinions upon other questions, we pledge ourselves to unite in opposition to the present administration and to the party which upholds and supports it and to use all honorable and constitutional means to wrest

1716-705: Was held in Decatur, Illinois , for all state anti-Nebraska newspaper editors; twenty-five papers were represented. One of the resolutions approved by this convention was for the appointment of a state committee to call a state Republican convention. The first official Republican convention in Illinois was held on May 29, 1856, in Bloomington . Chairman John M. Palmer was elected convention president after his opening address. Nine vice presidents and five secretaries were then elected. The convention nominated Bissell for governor with Francis Hoffmann as lieutenant governor, Ozias M. Hatch for secretary of state, Jesse K. Dubois as auditor, and James Miller as treasurer. Hoffmann

1760-523: Was passed on May 30, 1854, sparking a political upheaval. The Whig party dissolved and anti-slavery Democrats, including Bissell and Wentworth, abandoned their party; they united in a de facto Anti-Nebraska party , known as the Opposition Party . After its ratification, Douglas spoke in the state capital of Springfield during the Illinois State Fair on behalf of the act. During the fair, prominent abolitionist Owen Lovejoy attempted to organize

1804-628: Was proposed to abolish Illinois's use of Cumulative Voting and multi-member districts. Since its passage in 1980, representatives have been elected from 118 single-member districts formed by dividing the 59 Senate districts in half, a method known as nesting . Each senator is "associated" with two representatives. Since the adoption of the Cutback Amendment, there have been proposals by some major political figures in Illinois to bring back multi-member districts. A task force led by former governor Jim Edgar and former federal judge Abner Mikva issued

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1848-623: Was replaced by Don Tracy , who was the chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board, in February 2021. The Illinois Republican Party is run by the Illinois Republican State Central Committee, which consists of 17 members, one representing each of the state's congressional districts. After the 2022 elections, Republicans hold 3 of the state's 17 U.S. House seats and none of the statewide offices. The Republicans are also

1892-492: Was successful. Bissell became the first Governor from a party other than the Democrats since 1838. Republicans would win every subsequent gubernatorial election through 1893. Illinois House of Representatives Minority The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly . The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under

1936-536: Was sworn into office January 10, 2017. The Illinois House of Representatives meets at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois . It is required to convene on the second Wednesday of January each year. Along with the Illinois Senate and governor, it is vested with the power to make laws, come up with a state budget, act on federal constitutional amendments, and propose constitutional amendments to

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