Daily Herald opinion: ‘Discussion by discussion’: Republicans make promising choice with new state party leader

A combination of voter demographics and structural election dynamics — read gerrymandering — has made it tough in recent years for Republicans to show enough political strength to become relevant in Illinois government.

Adding to the picture have been philosophical differences eating away at the party from within. In 2024, then-state party Chairman Don Tracy stepped away from the job complaining that he spent “far too much time dealing with intraparty power struggles, and local intraparty animosities.”

Some of that squabbling appears to have settled down under Tracy’s successor, Kathy Salvi, of Mundelein, yet it’s not clear whether that is because the internal forces are cooperating or much of the strength of the party has simply abandoned ship. If the latter is true — and, for that matter, even if it is not — Republicans could hardly have done better last week than to elect former DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan to take the reins.

In three terms as auditor, Grogan, of Downers Grove, was an innovative, efficient, taxpayer-focused executive, known for his concentration on the demands of the job over partisan political concerns. His lists of county firsts include a county online checkbook, an office transparency and an auditor hotline. He was one of the most respected auditors in the state, eventually serving as president of the Association of Illinois County Auditors. Yet, although his focus centered on the functions of his job, he also understood the political side of the equation and demonstrated leadership in promoting traditional Republican values, including serving on the influential Republican State Central Committee.

His new role no doubt will be one of the most challenging he has faced. Through a systematic process of legislative boundary control, Democrats have stacked the political calculus strongly in their favor, and the animus-driven influence of Trumpian politics that breaches no sense of compromise still fractures the party.

Yet, if anyone can placate what the Republicans’ arch-conservative wing call the “grass roots” while wooing back traditional conservative voters like those in the molds of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan who used to dominate suburban politics, it is someone like Grogan.

His basic spirit is a good place to start. In an interview following his election, he told our Marni Pyke, “I consider myself a member of the ‘civil right.’ Which means I consider myself conservative, however, I believe in deliberate, peaceful discussion. I don’t believe in calling people names.”

That alone will be a welcome priority in elevating political discussions. But Grogan’s fundamental strategy also holds great promise.

“I do believe in the average common sense of the Illinois voter,” he said. “At some point, one by one, discussion by discussion, door knock by door knock, Facebook post by Facebook post … they do see that Republicans’ answers to some of these everyday life problems are better.”

It takes two strong, influential political parties to produce the kind of strong, well-moderated government needed for a diverse state like Illinois. That has not been the case for too long. The state Republican Party took a good step in the right direction by putting Grogan at its head.