WGN9
— Kathy Salvi ousted as Illinois GOP chair, Bob Grogan takes over
https://wgntv.com/news/illinois/kathy-salvi-ousted-as-illinois-gop-chair-bob-grogan-takes-over/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Kathy Salvi is out as Illinois Republican Party chair less than two years after being elected by the State Central Committee. In a Monday release, the Illinois Republican Party announced the election of Bob Grogan, effective immediately. A native of DuPage County, Grogan previously served as county auditor from 2008 to 2020. “I am honored and humbled to be elected as the next Chair of the Illinois Republican Party. I’m grateful to my good friend, Chair Salvi, for her dedication to the party and her work to build a brighter future for Illinois families. Illinois Republicans are united and I’m excited to get to work electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November,” Grogan said in a statement. Darren Bailey, the former state senator set for a gubernatorial rematch with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November, and Lt. Gov. candidate Aaron Del Mar thanked Salvi for her unwavering commitment to supporting GOP candidates and also hailed Grogan’s appointment. “We look forward to working with Bob to win the support of Illinois voters and take back our state in November!” read Bailey’s statement. Salvi, a lawyer and former Lake County assistant public defender, took over as Illinois GOP chair on July 19, 2024, succeeding Don Tracy, who had announced his decision to step down.)
DAILY HERALD
— State Republicans choose suburbanite Grogan to lead the party
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260518/illinois-state-politics/state-republicans-choose-suburbanite-grogan-to-lead-the-party/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For the third time in five years, Illinois Republican Party officials on Monday picked a new leader to navigate the choppy waters of Prairie State politics. Downers Grove resident Bob Grogan, whose experience includes serving as former DuPage County auditor, grass-roots organizer and State Central Committee member, is the new GOP chair. “I am honored and humbled to be elected as the next chair of the Illinois Republican Party. Illinois Republicans are united and I’m excited to get to work electing Republicans up and down the ballot in November,” Grogan said in a statement. He recognized outgoing Chair Kathy Salvi, who had sought reelection. “I’m grateful to my good friend, Chair Salvi, for her dedication to the party and her work to build a brighter future for Illinois families,” Grogan said. Mundelein attorney Salvi took over the leadership of the party in July 2024 just before the Republican National Convention convened in Milwaukee. “When you cross the border into Illinois, don’t you sorta feel a blue funk sometimes?” Salvi told state delegates at a RNC gathering July 17, 2024 . “Well I’ll tell ya, that blue funk is over.” She succeeded Springfield attorney Don Tracy, who was selected in February 2021 and resigned in June 2024, blaming infighting in the ranks. “Unfortunately, however, I have had to spend far too much time dealing with intraparty power struggles, and local intraparty animosities that continued after primaries and county chair elections,” Tracy said at the time. Tracy and Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton are running for the U.S. Senate seat held by outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin in the November election. Inspiring Republicans and raising funds in a blue state is a challenge, however party officials say Grogan is up to the task. As DuPage auditor, “Grogan focused on transparency, radically transforming the office to make the county checkbook publicly available, create a transparency portal and create a fraud hotline,” the Illinois Republican Party said in a statement. “His work rooted out waste, fraud and abuse, saving Illinois taxpayers millions of dollars.”)
CAPITOL CITY NOW
— Salvi out as Illinois GOP leader. No reason was given for the change.
https://capitolcitynow.com/news/248842-salvi-out-as-illinois-gop-leader/
THOMAS DEVORE
— The Illinois GOP Just Voted to Lose
https://www.facebook.com/
(FROM THE POSTING: If you want to understand why the Illinois Republican Party cannot win in Illinois, look no further than the weighted vote tally that just installed Bob Grogan, Part-Time Plummer’s boy, as Chairman of the Illinois Republican State Central Committee. The chart is below. Seventeen members. Seventeen votes, weighted by district. And by a margin of 61.1 to 38.9 percent, the same establishment faction that has presided over a generation of statewide defeat has handed itself the keys to the party once again. The result was not earned on the merits. It was assembled, district by district, deal by deal, by people whose only common thread is their contempt for the grassroots conservatives who keep showing up despite them. Start with Grogan. He did not arrive on the State Central Committee through anything resembling a clean process. Grassroots Republicans in DuPage County have, almost without exception, described the contest that put him there as rigged from the start. He got the seat anyway. Now he gets the gavel. And now he gets to spend the next four years steering the apparatus on behalf of the same circle of self-styled “reformers” who keep losing. Look at the slate that delivered him the chairmanship — and what each of them walked away with. Zach Emberton (District 15) controls the largest single weighted vote on the committee — 16.5 percent. He voted Grogan. He is now Vice Chair. Emberton does not move without Tony McCombie’s permission, and through him, she now has her hand on the wheel of the state party. Rhonda Belford (District 12) — 15.9 percent, the second largest weighted vote on the committee — voted Grogan. She supplied the margin and it is yet to be seen what she gets out of the deal. Keith Brin (District 10) voted Grogan. He is now Secretary. Cindy Lamar (District 13) voted Grogan. She is now Treasurer. Cindy replaced Miles Nelson and votes, on every consequential question, the way Miles would have. Add in the votes of Bunting, Flynn, and Boulton, and the deeply disappointing vote from Beth Findley-Smith (District 14) — who has spent years presenting herself as a grassroots conservative and then cast her 5.5 percent share for the very people who exist to suffocate the grassroots, and you have your majority. This is not a coincidence. It is a coalition. It is the same coalition we have seen for years: the Jason Plummer, Jeanne Ives, Dan Proft, Ted Dabrowski axis of the party. The people who lose every competitive race they touch and whose answer to losing has always been to purge the people who told them why. They lost a primary to Darren Bailey that they thought they owned. They have been trying to settle that score ever since. This vote was the next installment. Here is what it means for November. Darren Bailey is running. Aaron Del Mar, himself a member of this State Central Committee from District 5, is running. The party they belong to is now controlled by people whose explicit political project is to ensure that neither of them succeeds, because the success of either one would discredit the entire faction that just took power. These officers will not raise the money. They will not coordinate the field. They will not show up for our candidates in any meaningful way. They will smile for the cameras at the State Fair, issue the obligatory press releases, and quietly do everything in their power to keep state party resources away from any campaign that has not been blessed by the inner circle. I know how this reads. It reads like sour grapes from a side that lost a vote. It is not. Look at the names. Look at the percentages. Look at the alignments. Then ask yourself one question: in the last decade, has a single Illinois Republican from this Grogan, Plummer, Proft, Ives axis won a competitive statewide race? The answer is no. They lose, they blame the grassroots, and they consolidate. Grassroots Republicans across this state need to recognize what just happened and respond accordingly. Stop sending money to Springfield. Stop trusting state party leadership to do the right thing. Start building independent infrastructure, county by county, precinct by precinct, that does not need the State Central Committee’s blessing to function. We are going to lose in November. The people who just took control of this party are prepared to lose, they want to lose, because a loss is the cleanest argument for keeping their grip on the apparatus that produced it. Don’t give them the satisfaction of pretending otherwise.)
GOPUSA ILLINOIS
— I am one of those who are reluctant to blame Salvi for Republican losses. Fioretti, Harris, and Solomon have stressed her accomplishments. Serving as the chairman of a political organization is a thankless job; they are always blamed for their party’s losses. I survived for 7 years as the chairman of TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois 2005-2012. During that time, I invited speakers for all 78 of the organization’s monthly meetings, August picnics, and December Christmas parties. I should list all those who spoke at those events; my critics/opponents always demonized, denigrated, and condemned them. To end my TAPROOT chairmanship and to destroy TAPROOT in 2012, my critics/opponents had their TAPROOT officers and their TAPROOT directors charge me with gross incompetence. They argued/shouted that anyone could do a better job of heading TAPROOT than I did. Previously, I survived for 4 years as a member of the Illinois Center Right Coalition (ICRC) Steering Committee (SC) 2003-2007. My critics/opponents had my fellow ICRC SC members end my ICRC SC membership and destroy ICRC in 2007. In 2006, they unsuccessfully tried to get ICRC to censure me for my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. I should write about my critics/opponents. I would focus on IRP SCC members since 1999.
http://www.gopilinois.com
— INITIAL QUESTIONS FOR IRP CHAIRMAN GROGAN: What are you going to do differently than Salvi? What is your response be to Thomas DeVore’s criticisms? Who do you want to replace you as the IRP SCC District 6 member? With the IRP’s Executive Director resignation, who do you want to serve as the IRP Executive Director? What are you going to do to improve IRP communication with Illinois Republican Precinct Committeemen? What do you say to those who want the IRP to be the “Democrat Lite Party?” What is your position on direct election of IRP SCC members? What is your position on Dave Diersen and his GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters? What is your position on Diersen being thrown off the 2024 IRP State Convention Platform and Resolutions Committee? – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— What do your critics/opponents want you to do? My critics/opponents want me to stop sending out GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop everyone from reading my newsletters. Failing that, they want to stop me from promoting conservative principles in my newsletters. Failing that, they want me to stop promoting the planks in the Republican Party platform that they reject in my newsletters. Most commonly, they reject the personal responsibility, traditional marriage and family, right to life, immigration, anti-vice, Second Amendment, and/or equal opportunity (no race or gender based preference giving) planks. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
— Ever since my Democrat GAO superiors forced me to retire when I was 49 in 1997, to discourage/stop me from running for a government office or for a political office, my critics/opponents in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois have done everything that they could to destroy me. They most feared that I would run for DuPage County Auditor a) because I had worked for GAO as an Analyst for almost 18 years, the last 11 years of which at the GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $118,984-$154,682/year, b) because I had worked for IRS for almost 9 years before that, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 Levels, currently $100,059-$113,402/year, c) because had I passed the CPA examination and the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt, d) because I had become a licensed CPA, e) because I had become a certified fraud examiner, government financial manager, financial services auditor, and forensic accountant, and f) because I had master’s degrees in business, accounting, and finance. I should write about my critics/opponents in Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County, and Illinois and the many big adverse actions that have had their operatives and their dupes take against me. Of course, they ignore/dismiss/belittle/badmouth what I did to help elect and to help reelect Jim Rasins and Bob Grogan as DuPage County Auditors. They always stressed that Grogan got better scores on the CPA examination than I did and that he became a Certified Fraud Examiner by passing an examination while I grandfathered in. – Dave Diersen
http://www.gopillinois.com
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Bob Grogan Elected to Head Illinois State Republican Party (FROM THE ARTICLE: The Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party is stepping down for health reasons.)
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/bob-grogan-elected-to-head-illinois-state-republican-party/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: From a Friend of McHenry County Blog: Grogan Beats and Replaces Salvi The Chairman race was won by district 6 SCC member Bob Grogan who defeated incumbent Kathy Salvi. The vote was 9-8 for Grogan, however, that doesn’t matter since weighted vote is used. Grogan received 61.1% of the weighted vote. The State Central Committee met on Monday, May 18 to pick its executive committee. The Secretary race was won by Keith Brin who serves as the 10th district SCC member. The Treasurer race was won by Cindy Lamar who is the 13th district SCC member. The Vice Chairman race was won by Zach Emberton who represents the 15th district on the SCC. Deputy SCC members were also approved. The Illinois Republican Party, according to its bylaws, requires that deputies be the opposite gender of the SCC member, so if the SCC member is a male he has to pick a female and vice versa. For McHenry County, I am told that former Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger will be the deputy in the 10th district serving with Keith Brin, that former congressional candidate Susan Altman will be the deputy in the 11th district with Chris Yaeger, and that Jan Klaas will be the deputy in the 16th district with Jim Rule. I did not get a deputy name for the 9th district which is also in McHenry County, and I was told that some SCC members did not nominate deputies. Joan LaSonde is the SCC member in the 9th district. Matt Janes, the Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party, is stepping down for health reasons. McHenry County Blog contributors and readers will put Matt Janes in our prayers.)
— Illinois Unemployment Up to 5%, Trump Blamed
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/19/illinois-unemployment-up-to-5-trump-blamed/
— Wilcox Outlines What Will Happen in Last Two Weeks in Springfield
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/wilcox-outlines-what-will-happen-in-last-two-weeks-in-springfield/
— DeWitte Outlines Last Two Weeks of Legislative Session
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/dewitte-outlines-last-two-weeks-of-legislative-session/
— Algonquin Raises Comprehensive Alarm About Pritzker’s Grab of Local Zoning Power
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/algonquin-raises-alarm-about-pritzkers-grab-of-local-zoning-power/
— Crystal Lake Park Board Set to Sell $2 Million in Non-Referendum Bonds
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/crystal-lake-park-board-set-to-sell-2-million-in-non-referendum-bonds/
— Collin Corbett Collects Some Money, Has Website and Schedules Announcement Party
https://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/2026/05/18/collin-corbett-collects-some-money-has-website-and-schedules-announcement-party/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURSES
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DD: For Democrat leaders, education exists to crank out good little Democrats.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/university-of-chicago-laboratory-schools-university-of-chicago-chicago-statement-free-expression-free-speech-first-amendment/
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD: Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/18/justice-department-irs/
— DD: Democrats always want a) Democrats to pay less taxes and b) Republicans to pay more taxes.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/05/19/opinion-illinois-budget-trump-tax-cuts/
WSIU
— DOJ creates an ‘anti-weaponization fund’ as part of Trump IRS settlement. DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican federal elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.wsiu.org/2026-05-19/doj-creates-an-anti-weaponization-fund-as-part-of-trump-irs-settlement
POLITICO ILLINOIS
— Pritzker returns swinging at City Hall
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2026/05/19/pritzker-returns-swinging-at-city-hall-00927376
CAPITOL FAX
— Morning briefing
https://capitolfax.com/2026/05/19/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-briefing-740/
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
REAL CLEAR POLITICS
— Illinois Should Stop Passing 3,000-Page Budgets Sight Unseen
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2026/05/19/illinois_should_stop_passing_3000-page_budgets_sight_unseen_154134.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
DAILY SIGNAL
— California School District Spends $300K to Partner With LGBTQ Center
https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/05/18/california-school-district-lgbtq/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
MSN
— DD: Democrat leaders ever-increasingly destroy traditional marriage and family.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/11-reasons-why-more-women-are-walking-away-from-men-and-marriage/ss-AA1YvbfS
NEW YORK TIMES
— FRONT PASGE TOP OF FOLD: DD: The Democrat Party and its mainstream news media exist to drive Trump’s approval ratings down.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html
WASHINGTON POST
— Trump’s deal to drop suit against IRS creates $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund.’ DD: My critics/opponents have always stressed that in Diersen v. GAO, not only Bush’s DOJ sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me, but that no Republican elected officials in Illinois came to my defense, that is, they sided with my Democrat GAO superiors against me. To side with my Democrat GAO superiors, is to promote Affirmative Action and DEI, that is, to promote race and gender based preference giving, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, age discrimination, religious discrimination, and national origin discrimination.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/05/18/trump-will-end-10-billion-lawsuit-against-irs-over-leaked-tax-records/
WALL STREET JOURNAL
— A Master’s Degree Isn’t the Job Guarantee It Used to Be. New data shows the unemployment rate for professionals under 35 with advanced degrees has rarely been higher in the past 20 years. DD: I spent lots of my time and my money earning three master’s degrees: 16 courses for an MBA from Loyola in 1976, 12 courses for a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and 14 courses for a master’s degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997.
https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/a-masters-degree-isnt-the-job-guarantee-it-used-to-be-53e237aa
— FRONT PAGE: Parents Are Fuming About Other Peoples’ Kids Getting Extra Time on the SAT. Special accommodations for irritable bowel syndrome? Families are getting creative, and spending big, in pursuit of an edge.
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/parents-are-fuming-about-other-peoples-kids-getting-extra-time-on-the-sat-2daeea8c
WEEK
— DD: Democrats and RINOs have always, are now, and will always use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://theweek.com/articles/462937/origins-affirmative-action
INSIDE HIGHER EDUCATION
— DD: Democrats and RINOs have always, are now, and will always use Affirmative Action and DEI to get rid of Republicans.
https://www.insidehighered.com/opinion/views/2026/05/19/after-dei-backlash-what-can-individuals-do-opinion
