Month: February 2024

(Chicago, Illinois) – The Illinois Republican Party, in partnership with the Chicago Republican Party and the Northside GOP Club, hosted a highly informative event on Wednesday, February 28th, at The Reveler in Chicago. The event provided clarity and understanding about the crucial role of election judges and poll workers in ensuring fair and transparent elections. Through an interactive session, participants learned about the essential tasks performed by election judges and the significance of their impartiality in upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

The event provided a platform for individuals to have their questions addressed and gain insights into why it is imperative for citizens to serve as Republican election judges. By encouraging friends, family members, neighbors, and colleagues to attend, participants had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the realities of election day and the critical role played by election judges in upholding democracy.

“Fair and transparent elections are the bedrock of our democracy, ensuring that the voice of every citizen is heard and every vote counts,” said Don Tracy, Illinois Republican Party Chairman. “Election judges stand as guardians of this sacred process, ensuring that our democratic principles remain steadfast. By demystifying the election judge/poll worker process, we aimed to ignite a sense of civic duty, inspiring individuals to step forward and serve their communities in this pivotal capacity. Our commitment extends beyond mere participation; we are steadfast in our dedication to championing conservative values, supporting Republican candidates, and advocating for policies that foster the prosperity and well-being of all Illinoisans.”

(Chicago, IL) – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to a Cook County Judge ordering the removal of former President Donald Trump’s name from Illinois’ upcoming primary ballot:

As we’ve stated repeatedly, the Illinois Republican Party believes the people, not activist courts or unelected bureaucrats, should choose who represents them in the White House,” said Don Tracy, Illinois Republican Party Chairman. “This decision to remove President Trump from the ballot without due process is an affront to democracy and limits the voting rights of Illinois citizens.”

The decision by Cook County Judge Tracie Porter, following a legal challenge despite the unanimous ruling by the Illinois State Board of Elections affirming his eligibility, is pending an appeal.

Illinois’ primary election takes place on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

(Chicago, IL) – In the latest setback for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Cook County judge ruled on February 23rd that Johnson’s Mansion Tax was unconstitutional. The ruling, delivered by Judge Kathleen Burke, determined the proposed referendum violates state law by asking for both a tax cut and a tax hike in the same question, consequently ordering its removal from the March 19 primary ballot in Chicago.

The “Bring Chicago Home” proposal by the Johnson administration, aimed to adjust the tax imposed on real estate sales with the promise of raising $100 million annually for homeless relief efforts. However, details regarding how these funds would effectively mitigate homelessness remained vague.

Under the proposed plan, properties selling for less than $1 million would see a slight tax cut, while taxes for properties selling between $1 million to $1.5 million would triple, and those selling above $1.5 million would face quadruple taxation. The majority of properties affected by the proposed tax increase are commercial rather than residential, by a ratio of 9-to-1.

Diverting additional funds through burdensome taxation disproportionately impacts small businesses and property owners, hindering economic growth and job creation. Los Angeles enacted a similar measure and the projected revenue fell short of expectations while at the same time burdening commercial and rental property owners.

“This ruling is a victory for taxpayers and small businesses across Chicago who would have borne the brunt of Mayor Johnson’s unconstitutional and misguided Mansion Tax proposal,” said Don Tracy, Illinois Republican Party Chairman. “It would have been the same story of Democrat policies that burden hardworking citizens with excessive taxation and hinder economic growth. We must be fiscally responsible and encourage entrepreneurship to truly serve the people of Chicago and Illinois.”

CHICAGO — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has had a pretty bad week to put it lightly. With just 6 months left until the Democratic National Convention comes to Chicago, national Democrats should have big questions about the city’s readiness to be the focus of the free world if this week is any indication. 

“This past week is representative of what we’ve come to expect from Illinois Democrats,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “The governor calls for a billion dollars in tax hikes to pay for the migrant crisis he helped create, while the mayor of the state’s largest city can’t stop getting in his own way.”

Mayor Johnson’s No Good, Very Bad Week: 
Crain’s Chicago Business: The migrant crisis opens a rift between the mayor and would-be allies

Fox News: Chicago Mayor Johnson abruptly ends meeting with newspaper after refusing to speak on the record

The Sun-Times’ report cited a “bizarre news conference” Johnson held last week when he was bombarded with questions about his plans to end the city’s ShotSpotter contract and his refusal to commit $70 million to address the city’s migrant crisis. The paper said he dodged yes-or-no questions and offered non-answers.

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Brandon Johnson, his message, and the media: Time for a course correction before public loses faith

After the combative Lori Lightfoot, Johnson seemed like a candidate for Mr. Congeniality. But Johnson’s communication missteps appear to have exhausted the bank of goodwill with the reporters who cover him – and, in turn, has kept the public in the dark about what his administration is doing.

Washington Examiner: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson asks to add $1.25 billion to city’s massive debt

Chicago has the second-highest debt per taxpayer in the U.S. Chicago also has the highest amount of unfunded pension benefits totaling more than $33.7 million. Under Johnson’s proposed plan, the city plans to use the money from the expiring TIFs to pay back the accumulated $2.4 billion debt by 2061.

In December, Johnson came under fire for allocating $95 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds toward the migrant crisis. According to city, county, and state officials, nearly $321 million is needed through the end of the year to address the issue. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) accused Johnson of not following through on his commitment to cover $70 million of the burden. State and county officials agreed to cover the remaining $250 million.

NBC Chicago: Newly obtained records shed light on cost of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s trip to Los Angeles
Records show Mayor Brandon Johnson traveled to Los Angeles earlier this month with seven city employees – including four members of his security detail – at a cost to the taxpayers of nearly $8,000, though that figure may be higher given the heavy redactions of the documents obtained.

Johnson went to Los Angeles on Feb. 2 for a conference of the African American Mayors Association, then stayed to attend the Grammy Awards the evening of Feb. 4, according to his schedule.

Chicago Tribune: Editorial: ShotSpotter disaster only the latest example of mayoral incompetence

But Hamlet on the fifth floor tried at the eleventh hour to appease both his police chief and his base (and maybe also a worried Gov. J.B. Pritzker whose national reputation rides on a successful DNC). The only problem is Johnson forgot to let ShotSpotter’s owner in on his plans before making them public. Surprise! A day later, news leaked that SoundThinking told City Hall it wouldn’t agree to the short-term extension.

In as high-profile a situation as this, what competent mayor would announce there will be a contract extension with a vendor without closing a deal with the vendor first? It appears City Hall just assumed SoundThinking would be OK with continuing for another several months even though the company had no contractual obligation to do so.

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Johnson spends $8.6 million on nine-month ShotSpotter deal – more than entire past year’s cost

CHICAGO — Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker’s budget response:

“Governor Pritzker has made it a habit of standing up every year to tell the people of Illinois not to believe their own eyes and just trust him with their money. Governor Pritzker’s budgets have spiked spending more than 30% since he took office while we as a state continue to lose population, more than 260,000 people leaving Illinois in the last 3 years alone. Governor Pritzker helped bring the ongoing migrant crisis to Illinois and despite 18 months of disaster proclamations, still can’t get on the same page with the state’s largest city. All the while, he jetsets across the country giving political speeches, more interested in headlines and presidential speculation than actually governing this state.

This budget proposal represents what we’ve come to expect from Governor Pritzker: empty promises of bipartisanship, a radical agenda, and more of your taxpayer dollars to cover the tab.”

Despite rampant violent crime in the city of Chicago, Mayor Johnson is taking a bizarre approach to ending the city’s contract with the potentially life-saving tool “ShotSpotter” – but not until AFTER the Democratic National Committee Convention is held this summer.

What They Are Saying:

Chicago Sun Times: Fran Spielman, Tom Schuba – “If Johnson was so determined to honor his campaign promise to get rid of the controversial gunshot detection system, why did he wait until the last minute to timidly announce the decision and fail to prepare the Chicago Police Department for life after ShotSpotter?”

The Hill: Tahman Bradley, Marisa Rodriguez, and Eli Ong – “’Where do you draw the line? ….Are we going to take away every tool that has made this job and our communities safer?’” – Alderman Walter Burnett.

Chicago Tribune: Jake Sheridan – “Company and city officials had mostly refused to answer questions as the gunshot detection system’s short-term future hung in doubt throughout the week. The nonanswers became even more prominent during the mayor’s fiery news conference Thursday, in which reporters grew frustrated as Johnson dodged questions about whether or not a deal had been reached. Johnson would not answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when repeatedly asked if Chicago and ShotSpotter had a contract, but said he had ‘been clear’ that the technology would operate through September.”…. “To no avail, reporters clamored in vain Thursday for one-word answers on whether ShotSpotter would operate this [past] weekend. But the mayor offered a crystal-clear response on whether it would be replaced in Chicago by another gunshot detection tool. ‘No,’ he said before the reporter finished asking the question.”

Chicago Tribune: Jake Sheridan – “If ShotSpotter’s use suddenly ends in the near future, it would mean a ‘tremendous deal’ for the city, [Alderman Chris] Taliaferro said Wednesday. Police leaders would have to scramble to find interim measures to speed up gunshot responses, he said.”

CBS News: Aldermen react to Chicago’s cancellation of contract with ShotSpotter [VIDEO] – “Keeping ShotSpotter is the right thing to do,” said Alderman David Moore. “When you put politics in front of public safety, we have to draw the line,” said Alderman Anthony Beale.

Fox32: Chicago aldermen criticize mayor’s decision to end ShotSpotter [VIDEO] – “‘Black and brown communities hear gunshots all the time. Some are immune to it. ShotSpotter saves lives. Why? Because police will still respond to those calls,’ said Alderman Anthony Beale. Chicago’s former top cop Garry McCarthy said, ‘I think it’s a bad decision.’” “[Mayor Johnson is] wrong…he needs to change his decision and listen to the community,” said Alderwoman Silvana Tabares. “It’s very disrespectful,” said another person.

NBC5 Chicago: Nate Rogers – “…Alderman Raymond Lopez heralded ShotSpotter as ‘life-saving technology,’ saying that its quick alert times had helped save the lives of shooting victims.”

CBS News: Sabrina Franza – “Chicago Police leaders and several aldermen have said ShotSpotter has been a key tool for investigating gun crimes.”

Chicago Sun Times: Fran Spielman, Tom Schuba – “After the Sun-Times reported on the decision earlier in the day, Johnson’s office issued a statement saying the city “will decommission the use of ShotSpotter technology on September 22,” meaning cops will have access to the system throughout the historically violent summer months and the Democratic National Convention.”

ABC7 Chicago: Liz Nagy – “’We are in the process of taking away many of the tools that allow for violence to be reduced in our neighborhoods,’ said Alderman Chris Taliaferro.”

Fox News: Stepheny Price – “Alderwoman Silvana Tabares blasted those advocating for eliminating ShotSpotter and accused them of greed. ‘The only people against ShotSpotter are the community organizers who want to use the money that saves Black and brown lives into their own pockets,’ she told the media on Tuesday.”

Townhall: Guy Benson – “If ShotSpotter is so useless, people are asking why Johnson won’t axe it before all the party bigwigs come to town this summer?”

National Review: Jeffrey Blehar – Brandon Johnson Is Now the Most Tragically Stupid Big-City Mayor in America

Breitbart: Warner Todd Huston – “Alderman Anthony Beale called the move ‘another horrible decision’ by the Johnson administration. Beale worried that communities covered by ShotSpotter would be less safe because many of the residents refuse to call the police when gunfire erupts. ShotSpotter is the primary tool that helps police locate and investigate shootings.”

New American: R. Cort Kirkwood – “The city police chief, Larry Snelling, does not agree. And neither do 13 of the city’s 50 aldermen. Led by the 29th ward’s Chris Taliaferro, they wrote to Snelling to say the technology is ‘critical to locating victims, giving first responders the opportunity to render swifter aid and locate evidence.’”

CHICAGO — In light of new headlines showing that not only would Mayor Brandon Johnson plan on cancelling Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter (conveniently AFTER Democrats converge on the city for the Democratic National Convention this summer), it was revealed that the Mayor made the announcement without a signed deal on the table. ShotSpotter has since rejected the Mayor’s offer, leading to the potential for the service that geolocates gunshots by acoustics to be turned off as of midnight on Friday. 

Chicago Democrats have been driving soft on crime policies that are making the city less safe, a theme Sean Morrison expounded on in the Chicago Tribune this week. 

Take a look at excerpts from Sean’s piece below and find the full article HERE.

Chicago Tribune: Sean Morrison: We can help put an end to Illinois Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies at the polls
“Here is a better idea. Let’s enforce our laws. Let’s punish people who commit crimes, and let’s make sure we give our police officers the tools they need to keep our neighborhoods safe. We don’t need barricades. We need better leadership.

Cook County is run completely by Democrats. It is their bad leadership and their bad policies that are making our communities less safe.

Their soft-on-crime policies are destroying our communities, and the people most hurt by their bad leadership are the very people they supposedly are trying to help.

If stores shut down because of theft, what happens to the residents who rely on those stores, especially on the South Side?

Who is looking out for Chicagoans? Certainly not Cook County Democrats. They are more worried about the rights of criminals than the innocent victims of crime that their policies have enabled.”

CHICAGO — Today, top Madigan aide Tim Mapes was sentenced to prison time after being found guilty of perjury and obstruction of justice by lying to prosecutors to protect Mike Madigan during corruption inquiries.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy released the following statement following the sentencing:

“In my now 3 year tenure as Chair of the Illinois Republican Party, we’ve finally seen Illinois Democrats face retribution for decades of corrupt practices. This is a fitting sentence for lying to federal prosecutors to protect your boss, one of the most powerful people in this state, and all Illinoisans look forward to Mike Madigan finally facing his day in court to be held accountable for the culture of corruption he built in his decades in power.”

CHICAGO — The Illinois Republican Party hosted its 1st annual Bank Your Vote Gala on Friday bringing together 750 Illinois Republicans and raising more than $450,000 to increase Illinois Republican voter turnout for the 2024 elections.

The Bank Your Vote initiative encourages reliable Republican voters to vote early when the polls first open in person or by mail and Friday’s Gala was the first state specific celebration of the initiative championed by one of the event’s lead speakers, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel.

“This event shows just how energized Illinois Republicans are to get our state and our country back on the right track this November,” said Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy. “Our cities are facing a migrant crisis because of the open borders policy of Biden, Pritzker and sanctuary city mayors. Our state is losing residents and businesses because of excessive taxation, anti-business governance, and Democrat failures to prosecute and imprison repeat criminals. Righting this ship and making Illinois a place where working families can once again prosper starts with electing more Illinois Republicans at all levels of government.”

“We brought more than 750 Republicans together in one of the largest gatherings of the Illinois Republican Party in recent memory,” said event chair and DuPage County Board Member Kari Galassi. “Hundreds of attendees have never donated to the state party and even more had never attended a Republican party event before. Republicans are energized, growing, and ready to turn Illinois around in 2024.”

Kari Galassi served as chair and former DuPage County Board member, Greg Hart, served as co-chair of the Bank Your Vote Gala. The gala was the first of its kind nationally as part of the Republican National Committee’s Bank Your Vote initiative.