State GOP: Rauner win a rebirth for the party

Bruce Rauner's victory is being hailed as the "rebirth of the Illinois Republican Party" by party officials who are looking to emulate Rauner's success in years to come.

The Winnetka businessman's election puts a Republican at the top of state government for the first time in 12 years, a fact Republicans are celebrating although Democrats still have supermajorities in both houses of state government.

"For Republicans, this means we're back in the game," said Palatine state Sen. Matt Murphy. "This means we have balance and accountability in state government for the first time in years."

Democratic incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn waited until Wednesday afternoon to concede, but Rauner and other Republicans wasted no time looking ahead to governing.

In his acceptance speech Tuesday night, Rauner called it a "historic" moment for Illinois and focused on the task ahead, of working in a divided government.

"There will have to be compromises on both sides," Murphy said.

Rauner said he started working toward those compromises with calls to House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate Majority Leader Tom Cullerton before making his acceptance speech on Tuesday night.

"I said to them, 'This is an opportunity for us to work together,'" Rauner said. According to later media reports, Madigan's spokesman said the two did not speak on Tuesday night.

Rauner's campaign, while an undeniable success, did not translate into down-ballot wins. Republicans needed to pick up only one House seat to break the Democrats' veto-proof supermajority, but were unable to do so.

But Republicans say this is just the beginning, that Rauner's victory is only the start of what could be a Republican resurgence in Illinois.

"I think we're seeing a rebirth of the Illinois Republican Party. We're seeing a new energy," said Illinois Republican Chairman Tim Schneider, of Bartlett.

Several party officials said Rauner's campaign can be a model for future GOP candidates looking to make their mark with voters.

"I'm really excited that Illinois is moving in a new direction," Schneider said. "We are going to build on this for the future."

"We're back," said Richard Porter, national GOP committeeman. "It was hard work and building on the principles that unite us as a party."

For Rauner that was a focus on economic issues, including making the state competitive again, and shying away from social issues that can often be divisive with voters.

"We aren't going to stop here," Porter said.