Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
As this fall’s general election approaches, incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner is facing stiff competition from Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, and at least one member of the Republican State Central Committee is being vocal about uniting the party.
That new member, Charlene Foss-Eggemann, is hoping her party can hang on to the governor’s mansion.
Elected to represent Illinois' Ninth Congressional District, Foss-Eggemann is positioning herself as a grassroots volunteer who is intent on providing a conservative voice from her district at the state level.
Charlene Foss-Eggemann
“I will work to unify the Republican Party before we head into another tough gubernatorial election cycle,” she told the North Cook News. “I will also work toward facilitating the development of party volunteers, protecting the conservative planks of the party platform, bolstering our statewide fundraising efforts and improving the quality of our voter data.”
But if she is sounding a somewhat conciliatory note, it may be because the party seems to have divided loyalties. Rauner, who won the primary by a scant 22,000-vote margin, faced opposition stirred up from “grassroots anger over [his] more liberal positions,” according to a May 19 piece in the State Journal-Register.
However, that same report said that Tim Schneider, a member of Rauner’s camp, had won another term as chairman of the Illinois GOP, an indication that the party’s cracks—if there were any—are healing.
“It’s important to note, however, that robust competition and debate is a cornerstone of our party’s principles,” Foss-Eggemann stated. "So I would not characterize a race as ‘division.’"
But with a tough battle against Pritzker ahead, Foss-Eggemann is realistic about what it may take to keep the governor’s office in the GOP column.
“We need to run with the opportunity and make the most of what we have,” she said. “We must all raise our game to make everyone feel welcome and do even more to engage and train grassroots volunteers. If we do these things, we win.”
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