Backpacker, accountant, ‘civil right’ member: New GOP chair steps up to lead fractious team

CPA Bob Grogan’s resume includes walking precincts, serving on the powerful Republican State Central Committee and three terms as DuPage County auditor.

His latest job is herding elephants as the new Illinois Republican Party chair, the state GOP’s third chief in five years.

“This is not something that I necessarily sought,” the Downers Grove resident said Tuesday. “It was my peers and people in the Republican Party that asked me to do it. And sometimes when people ask, and you feel that you can actually contribute, you step into the breach.”

Illinois Republicans face an uphill midterm election fight in a blue state where President Donald Trump’s poll numbers are shaky amid the Iran war and high gas prices.

But, “I do believe in the average common sense of the Illinois voter,” Grogan 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.

“We need to speak a little bit more loudly and a little bit clearly, and I think that’s how you overcome all the structural disadvantages that the Democrats have dealt us.”

On the Republican spectrum, Grogan said he’s hard to label.

“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,” he said.

His takeaway is “it’s either the conservative, moderate coalition that runs the state or the liberal, moderate coalition that runs the state. If (Republicans) have any interest in advancing our agenda, we have to embrace both conservatives and moderates. We cannot purge our way to 51%.”

State Central Committee members picked Grogan over incumbent Chair Kathy Salvi of Mundelein at a meeting Monday.

Salvi stepped in as chair in July 2024, just before the Republican National Convention, when her predecessor Don Tracy resigned citing party dissension after three years in office.

Illinois Democrats claimed on Tuesday that Salvi was GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey’s preferred choice and her departure signaled defeat for the former state senator from downstate Xenia.

Bailey thanked Salvi for her leadership and “unwavering commitment to supporting candidates up and down the ticket” in a statement Monday. He congratulated Grogan, saying “we look forward to working with Bob to win the support of Illinois voters and take back our state in November.”

Grogan credited Salvi for her “incredible job making sure that our finances are strong,” and offer of continued help.

“Kathy and I, we were friends before and we were friends after,” he added. “There was a vote, and it was not unanimous for me, which is totally fine. It was just a matter of emphasis. Kathy has skills that exceed mine, and I have some skills that exceed hers, and folks just wanted to look at which ones are appropriate for right now.”

Grogan, who is a certified fraud examiner, served for three terms as DuPage auditor before losing by 75 votes to Democratic challenger Bill White in 2020.

He conducted his interviews for the GOP job virtually over the weekend while attending two separate out-of-town college graduations for his son and daughter.

“My family is fortunately tolerant,” Grogan said.

On his leadership style — “I’m kind of a no-nonsense person. I’m trustworthy in that regard. When you’re an auditor, (people) have to trust that you’re calling balls and strikes. I guess that’s what the party needed at this time, and that’s why I was asked and elected.”