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CHICAGO — Today, the rest of the country learned what Illinois residents have long known – that Brandon Johnson’s Sanctuary City policies have failed Chicago. Take a look at the MUST WATCH moments from Johnson’s testimony:

• Brandon Johnson twisted himself into a pretzel justifying Chicago’s sanctuary city policies
• Sounding like a robot with only one answer, Johnson REFUSED to say if he would turn criminal illegal immigrants over to ICE
• Johnson claimed that Chicago is SAFER because they are a sanctuary state and welcome criminal illegal immigrants into our communities
• Representative Scott Perry educated Johnson on his own policies
• Representative Brandon Gill asked Johnson about his “secret gift room,” calling it a “serious ethical concern”

In response to Johnson’s evasive testimony, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“There’s a reason why Brandon Johnson is the ‘most unpopular man in America.’ Throughout today’s testimony, he has twisted himself into a pretzel, refused to adequately answer questions, and is treating this testimony as a game. Unfortunately, through all of this, Illinois families are suffering as Democrats like Pritzker and Johnson continue to grandstand and prioritize protecting criminals. President Trump is doing exactly what the American people elected him to do, and we stand ready to assist him in his efforts to secure our border and keep our streets safe.”

CHICAGO — Following President Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress in his second term as president, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“Tonight, President Trump addressed millions of Americans around the country and outlined his administration’s first 43 days in office – common sense solutions, securing our border, stopping government waste and abuse, and putting America First. The next four years will be full of prosperity as we get our country back on track and the Illinois Republican Party will continue to work with President Trump to help Illinois families and Make America Great Again.”

CHICAGO — Tomorrow, ‘the most unpopular man in America,’  Brandon Johnson, will take center stage in Washington DC to testify before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Johnson, along with other blue city mayors across the country, are testifying about their decision to prevent local police from assisting federal authorities in immigration enforcement. Here’s what people should be asking Brandon Johnson ahead of tomorrow’s hearing:

• In President Trump’s first days in office, he deported Nine Tren de Aragua terrorists, seven sexual predators who committed crimes against children, and two murderers from Chicago. Do you support the deportation of these people in your city?
• Do you plan to put their care and expenses on a never-ending credit card that you seem to think exists?
• With shelters full, schools overcrowded, and resources stretched thin, at what point does the city say, “We can’t take anymore” – or is there no limit?
• Can you name a single major decision you’ve made that wasn’t rubber-stamped by the Chicago’s Teacher Union, or should we just start calling them City Hall?
• When Chicagoans elected you, did they actually elect the CTU? Because sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s really in charge.
• Can you clarify how you plan to balance the city’s budget without overburdening taxpayers?
• Are you prepared to lose federal funding for refusing to work with the federal government?
• Instead of hiding improper and illegal gifts like Hugo Boss cufflinks and Gucci Bags, can you manage Chicago’s finances?
• How does it feel to have a lower approval rating than Blagojevich just before his impeachment?

Bottom Line: After tomorrow’s testimony in “one of the riskiest arenas of his political career,” how much lower can Brandon Johnson’s approval rating get? We’re guessing under 5% by Spring Break.

Fox News

March 2, 2025

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/blue-state-gop-chair-unleashes-governor-grandstanding-demand-trum-admin

Gov. JB Pritzker and 16 Illinois Democrats sent a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought on Tuesday demanding the Trump administration release $1.88 billion in federal funding to Illinois. Chair of the Illinois Republican Party Kathy Salvi dismissed it as Pritzker playing politics.

. . .

“Governor Pritzker is grandstanding for his 2028 run for president instead of focusing on the mess that he’s left with us in Illinois. Since he’s been the governor, now in his seventh budget address, he has raised our budget by $16 billion from a $39 billion budget initially to $55 billion,” Salvi told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview.

. . .

“His travel to Washington is a distraction of the mess that he’s led here in Illinois,” Salvi said.

Salvi said Pritzker is asking for a “blank check” without “any examination of where the money goes.”

“Pritzker’s budget plan faces a $3 billion budget deficit. He has been given a blank check for the last four years. Now, he is being held to account. So, instead of dealing with the problems that he and his administration have caused here in Illinois, which are causing people to flee our state to neighboring states, he decides instead to distract and sue the federal government. Well, I think we need to have an accounting here in Illinois. We, Illinois taxpayers and citizens and families, we require results,” Salvi said.

To see the full interview with Fox news, click here.

CHICAGO — On April 25, 2025, the Illinois Republican Party will host the Red Gala, headlined by Congressman and Florida Governor candidate Byron Donalds.

This 2nd annual gala brings together a passionate group of Republican volunteers dedicated to making a difference in Illinois and capitalizing on growth and momentum following the 2024 elections. The mission is vital: to raise funds for our early voting, Vote-By-Mail (VBM), and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) initiatives.

Individual tickets will go on sale on March 10, but we’re excited to offer you an exclusive opportunity to be among the first to sponsor and reserve a table.

BACKGROUND: 

Republicans made significant gains in early voting and utilizing VBM as more Republicans embraced voting before Election Day, thanks to the efforts of our first Bank Your Vote gala. 2024 Results: Republicans were the only voting group who increased their share of mail/early voters from 2020 to 2024.

• The Illinois Republican Party increased Republican mail and early vote turnout by 35%.
• 1 in 4 low propensity Republicans voted before Election Day–the highest percentage in Illinois history.
• Low propensity Republicans voted early and by mail at a higher rate than unreliable Democrats for the first time in IL history, outperforming them by 7.6%.

CHICAGO — Today, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement after the Chicago City Council voted to allow Brandon Johnson to tie an anchor around Chicago’s neck.

“Shame on Brandon Johnson and the 26 Chicago Aldermen who support his reckless spending spree. This senseless piece of legislation will cost Chicago residents billions of dollars while supporting the Chicago Teacher’s Union. Brandon Johnson and Democrats like JB Pritzker have never seen a budget too big for them and this bill will create unnecessary chaos and risks for our children and grandchildren.”

Word of advice: Chicago Democrats shouldn’t take financial advice from someone with a 6% approval rating.

CHICAGO — Chicago residents are stuck between a rock and a terrible place. Tomorrow, Chicago Aldermen will vote on Brandon Johnson’s $830 million bond deal. Make no mistake that this deal will:

• Mortgage Chicago’s future to give the Chicago Teacher’s Union a sweetheart deal
• Rack up $830 million in debt while costing Chicago residents BILLIONS

The simple fact is that Brandon Johnson is committed to tying an anchor around Chicago’s neck and JB Pritzker is along for the ride. They’re just two big spending Democrats who have never seen a budget that’s too big for them.

Bottom Line: Tomorrow, Chicago taxpayers are the only barrier to Mayor Johnson’s catastrophic deal. If it passes, his already abysmal 6% approval rating will plunge even further.

CHICAGO — Lost in the shuffle of the grandstanding and hypocrisy from Governor Pritzker’s budget speech was the dangerous, divisive rhetoric he used – comparing President Trump and the Republican Party to Nazi’s.

During Wednesday’s budget speech, Pritzker referred to Nazi’s six times, painting an inaccurate and dangerously partisan picture of the Republican Party. As Pritzker continues to prepare for his 2028 run for President, ILGOP Chair Kathy Salvi released the following statement:

“JB Pritzker stoops to a new low and needs to be condemned by both Democrats and Republicans. His disgusting and repulsive attack on Republicans and this administration comes at a time when President Trump and Republicans are supporting Israel and the Jewish people as they defend themselves from barbaric terrorists. Meanwhile, JB Pritzker is standing with criminal illegals and further dividing our great nation. At the Illinois Republican Party, we continue to fight with the Trump Administration to combat an unprecedented wave of antisemitism and will always call out Pritzker’s repulsive language.”

Bottom Line: In their effort to combat vile, antisemitic attacks like those by Governor Pritzker on Wednesday, President Trump and Republicans are fighting antisemitism in the United States.

CHICAGO — Following today’s budget address in Springfield, Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi released the below statement in response:

“What we heard today from Governor Pritzker was nothing more than grandstanding and hypocrisy from a politician who has already set his sights on his next pursuit of office. While President Trump is leading from the front, slashing government waste and spending to reduce the tax burden on American families, Governor Pritzker proposed yet another massive spending budget relying on pipe dream projections while lying about President Trump’s record in an effort to establish himself on a national stage, leaving Illinois in his wake. We need Republican leadership in this state to cut the bloated spending, reduce the tax burden on our families rather than treat our state like a stepping stone to higher ambitions like Governor Pritzker has.”

CHICAGO —  As Democrats jockey to figure out their identity after devastating losses last November, the party is being pulled in numerous directions – all bad for Illinois residents.

On one hand, Brandon Johnson wants to further destroy Chicago’s credit rating which would create havoc throughout the city. On the other hand, Comptroller Mendoza, a known Madigan protege, is pledging to keep the status quo in Chicago public schools while she ramps up her political ambitions. No matter how you slice it, Illinois Democrats priorities and positions are BAD for Chicago families and the future o f the city.

Final thought: If only there were a program, not dismantled by Mendoza and Pritzker, that provided kids in under-resourced communities with school choice