State Fair Political Days Are Upon Us
Governor JB Pritzker speaks at Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in 2019. (Photo: Capitol News Illinois)
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The Illinois State Fair’s annual political days, currently Governor’s Day and Republican Day, typically have a higher profile in election years.
But with the Democratic National Convention descending on Chicago next week, the traditional State Fair rallies have been slightly lost in the mix.
Wednesday is Governor’s Day at the Fair, and, as in recent years, the campaign of Governor JB Pritzker has toned down the traditional Director’s Lawn rally.
We’re told the noon rally will include short speeches from Pritzker and other statewide elected officials and music from Kapital Sound. Pritzker’s campaign has previously brought in big named country acts for the Fair, but have already announced a major concert with John Legend at next week’s Democratic National Convention.
The Governor’s Day rally or picnic, the terms have been interchanged in recent years, will take place rain or shine, the Governor’s campaign says.
Wednesday morning’s event, the Democratic County Chairman’s Association annual brunch, has become the main attraction of the Democratic festivities during the Fair.
Around 1,500 are expected for the brunch at the BOS Center Wednesday morning, which will be headlined by Cincinnati, OH Mayor Aftab Pureval.
The group has brought in big name headliners in recent years, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, now-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto, and Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff.
It is considered the largest yearly political event in Illinois.
We’re told Democrats are likely to “celebrate the accomplishments” of Democrats in the state and boast about their chances of greater gains in the November election.
Republicans, meanwhile, face a challenge trying to show a unified front and hope for electoral victories with legislative and congressional gerrymandering limiting their opportunities and a presidential candidate at the top of the ticket poised to lose Illinois by a million votes for the third election in a row.
The GOP kicks off its day Thursday with a joint breakfast for the GOP State Central Committee and Republican County Chairs Association. It’s traditionally more business-focused than the Democrat event.
Republicans will again focus on the traditional Director’s Lawn rally but won’t be backing away from former President Donald Trump’s low poll numbers. We confirmed late Tuesday former Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker, a controversial fierce defender of Trump and his policies, will be the keynote speaker for the Thursday rally.
New Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi, House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna), and Senate GOP Leader John Curran (R-Downers Grove) are also expected to speak. Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, who is unopposed in the November election, is also scheduled to speak, along with the three Republicans in the Illinois congressional delegation.
Republicans are likely to spend their time taking shots at large cities like Chicago, ahead of the DNC.
“The Democrat convention will showcase to the world just how poorly leftist run cities operate as their convention begins in Chicago,” Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said. “From out of control cost of living in one of the highest taxed states in the nation to rampant crime without prosecution, leftist policies hurt American families. Republicans stand united and ready to put more money back in your pocket, close our borders and stand up to crime - something you will hear plenty more about this Thursday at Republican Day.”
Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the fairgrounds Thursday. Party officials were still trying to work on a contingency plan for weather when we asked yesterday about the possibility of inclement weather.