State GOP leaders talk about Trump’s safety, and protest votes

Illinois Republicans addressed the suspected attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life as they urged voters to lodge “protest” votes against Democratic majorities locally and statewide Monday.

“We Republicans stand united with President Donald Trump and his family at this time. We have resolve, and we are happy that a suspect has been taken into custody and we look forward to hearing more details,” Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said in downtown Chicago.

Americans need to lower the temperature on social media and in-person regarding politics, party leaders said.

“I think the dangerous rhetoric is what leads to things like this,” said Salvi, of Mundelein. “We have to be careful and responsible.

Republican candidate for Cook County state’s attorney Bob Fioretti said of Trump, “we need to have more security for him,” and other former presidents. “They all do need additional coverage and protection.”

“The rhetoric (about Trump) that we’re hearing comes more from the left, but at the same time we need to calm it all down,” said Fioretti, a former Chicago alderman who is running against Democrat Eileen O’Neill Burke, a retired judge.

Cook county clerk Republican candidate Michelle Pennington stressed a theme that others echoed. “One political machine has been running Cook County for too long and it’s time to vote for a change,” she said. Her Democratic opponent is Cook Commissioner Monica Gordon.

Salvi introduced a slew of candidates for state and local offices and disputed that Democratic control in Illinois is a foregone conclusion.

She encouraged metro region residents to make a “protest vote” in favor of Republicans.

“And after 30 years of Democrat control here in our state both in Springfield and here, the city of Chicago, Cook County — why not? What do we have to lose?”

Democratic Party of Illinois officials countered that “It’s troubling that while the Illinois GOP speaks of unity, they continue to back Trump’s dangerous rhetoric, which has deepened divisions and led to violent threats.

“Rather than addressing the real concerns of Illinois families — like affordable health care, lower costs, and job creation — they’re choosing to support an extreme agenda that is out of touch with what people need,” a spokesperson said.