New DuPage County GOP chairman says party needs unified message

The new leader of the DuPage County GOP says the local party must come together, avoid Washington-style politics and rally around a unified message to get Republicans elected in November.

Jim Zay was elected party chairman by Republican precinct committeemen during their biennial county convention, which was held virtually Wednesday night because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I'm grateful to all the committeemen," Zay said Thursday. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Zay, of Carol Stream, has been a DuPage County Board member since 1999. His two-year term as GOP chairman is an unpaid position.

He said he's looking ahead to the general election, where Democrats will challenge Republicans for several countywide positions and six county board seats. There also are congressional races, including the 6th District where Wheaton Republican Jeanne Ives is challenging Democratic incumbent Sean Casten of Downers Grove.

Zay says some are counting the GOP out in DuPage, but that's a mistake.

"I think we just forgot to remind people why they live in DuPage County," Zay said. He pointed to the county's low crime rate, good schools and open space acquisitions that were achieved under decades of Republican leadership.

"We've got great leadership," he said. "We've got good government at all levels in the county. People have decided to raise their families here because of the good policies we've had."

Zay says DuPage Republicans should promote that positive message during the campaign.

"We're not going to get into the finger pointing," he said. "We're going to get into what we have to offer as a party."

When asked if he thought President Donald Trump will be a liability for suburban Republicans in November, Zay acknowledged some don't like the president.

"There's nothing we can do about it," he said. "Our job is to look at DuPage County and get our Republicans elected in DuPage County."

While DuPage Republicans elected Zay on Wednesday night, DuPage Democrats reelected their leader.

Cynthia Borbas secured another term as chairwoman of the Democratic Party of DuPage County. In a message posted on the party's website, Borbas said she's "humbled and honored" to continue to serve as chairwoman.