U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), left, and former Republican candidate Darren Bailey, right. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]  

Illinois Republicans have faced several story lines about division inside the party in recent years. They’ve squabbled about party chairs, embracing former President Donald Trump and some fought bitter elections against each other.

But kicking off the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee Monday, Illinois Republicans showed no signs of party divisions and are focused this week on backing their nominee for president of the United States.

Kathy Salvi speaks at a campaign event in Crystal Lake in 2022. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line] 

The Illinois Republican State Central Committee has named Kathy Salvi to be the party’s next chair as the GOP shakes up their leadership in the middle of the election cycle. 

Pace celebrates purchasing electric buses in April 2024. [Pace/X] 

Illinois received more than $400 million of grants last week to fund clean energy upgrades at public transportation agencies and kick start work at the Stellantis plant in Belvidere. 

Illinois Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in 2023. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

The Illinois Republican Party will get a new leader this week as party Chair Don Tracy exits, citing too much time spent managing party infighting. But one thing Illinois Republicans at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee will not disagree on next week is their support for former President Donald Trump as their party’s nominee.  

Meanwhile, Gov. JB Pritzker will be working behind the scenes and in front of the TV cameras to campaign for President Joe Biden in Milwaukee. 

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, an Illinois Democrat from Highland Park, became the second Illinois Democrat to call on President Joe Biden to step aside for a new nominee. And Gov. JB Pritzker explained a comment picked up by a hot mic on Wednesday. 

Gov. JB Pritzker signs the Healthcare Protection Act at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Gov. JB Pritzker signed his top legislative priority into law on Wednesday to make a series of reforms to health insurance policy in Illinois that supporters hope will make it easier for consumers to access health without getting caught up in red tape. 

Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday he believes President Joe Biden can win November’s election. And Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) wants Illinois Republican Party Chair Don Tracy to stay on the job through 2024.  

Gov. JB Pritzker takes the stage on election night in 2022 after winning a second term as governor. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker refused to rule out trying to replace President Joe Biden on the ticket if Biden were to decide to drop out of the race when asked by reporters Tuesday.  

Leaders of the four Chicago area transit agencies testify before the Senate Transportation Committee in Chicago on Tuesday. [Blue Room Stream] 

As state lawmakers begin conversations about public transit reform, the leaders of the Chicago area’s four transit agencies told state lawmakers that the best way to improve services is for the state to increase funding for public transportation. 

The four agency leaders also oppose consolidating their agencies under one roof.

The Illinois Capitol   

The state ended Fiscal Year 2024 on June 30 with revenue falling in line with expectations of the state’s two major budget forecasting offices. 

Despite the news that state revenue officially came in higher than legislators first expected when they passed the FY24 budget in May 2023, the state’s independent budget forecasting office the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) pointed out Illinois has a lot of work to do to improve key economic conditions.