Illinois Grassroots Republicans Are Fighting Two Battles: One Against Democrats, the Other Against Their Own Party

In the heart of the Midwest, Illinois Grassroots Republicans face an uphill battle — not just against a well-organized, well-funded Democratic machine, but against a growing threat from within: the Republican establishment itself.

Across the state, conservatives are waking up to a reality that’s become impossible to ignore — the GOP establishment doesn’t just neglect the grassroots base, it openly resents it. While everyday Republican voters are fighting for their families, their values, and their country, too many party insiders are fighting to keep control, even if it means betraying the very people they claim to represent.

The Rise of the RINOs

At the center of this internal struggle is the emergence — or persistence — of RINOs: Republicans In Name Only. These are candidates and officials who wear the GOP label but take Democrat campaign donations, routinely vote or work with Democrats for scraps, refuse to take a stand on cultural and economic issues, and act more like political chameleons than principled leaders.

In Illinois, RINOs often receive the full backing of the state party and the ever-shrinking number of legacy donors, who are more concerned with perceived electability than ideology. But that strategy has backfired as it has resulted in the Republican Party finding itself in the super minority. When Republican candidates campaign on half-measures, vague talking points, and a desperate bid to “reach across the aisle,” they don’t energize the base. They depress it which results in more Republican losses over time.

Take recent election cycles: establishment-backed candidates across the state lost by wide margins, not because they were “too conservative,” but because they weren’t conservative or passionate enough to inspire voters. Meanwhile, strong grassroots challengers were often shut out of endorsements, money, and media coverage — despite having passionate local support. The establishment ILGOP will almost always spend resources against the grassroots challengers to protect the RINOs.

The Grassroots Fights Back

Across the state, a new generation of conservative activists, parents, veterans, and small business owners, all of whom had their lives trampled on during COVID, as the RINOs sat by and watched, are stepping up to challenge the status quo. They have a newfound interest to run for school boards, county offices, and state seats — not because they want political careers, but because they’re tired of watching their communities be sold out by RINO politicians who play both sides just to keep their bloated salaries, fancy offices, and special license plate.

The Cost of Division

The reality is simple: Republicans don’t lose in Illinois because they’re too conservative. They lose because they fail to inspire. Voters want leaders who speak plainly, defend their values unapologetically, and actually follow through on promises. When the choice is between a Democrat, and a Republican who acts more like a Democrat than a Republican, most grassroots voters will just stay on the sidelines.

When grassroots conservatives push back, RINOs love to cry “you’re dividing the party!” or “we need unity to win!” It is one of their favorite tricks. But here’s the truth:

RINOs don’t want unity — they want silence. What they really mean is: “Stop calling us out for selling you out.” But unity without accountability is just surrender.

Grassroots conservatives aren’t the ones causing division. It’s the RINOs who take Democrat donations, compromise and vote with Democrats, undermine the Republican Party platform, and then expect blind loyalty. That’s not unity — that’s being used.

You get unity by respecting the people who do the work — knocking doors, making phone calls, showing up at rallies, and are ultimately responsible for getting Republicans elected. When the establishment ignores or insults them, they’re the ones breaking unity.

Grassroots conservatives believe in freedom, family, and the Constitution. If someone with an “R” next to their name doesn’t fight for these values at all costs, they’re the one creating the divide — not the people standing firm on principle.

If RINOs really cared about unity, they’d listen to the grassroots — not mock them, blacklist them, or fight harder against them than they do against Democrats.

A Path Forward

If Illinois Republicans want to win again — not just in rural strongholds but in swing districts and even urban pockets — they need to embrace the grassroots, not silence it. That means opening up the party to new voices, ending backroom deals, and supporting candidates who have the courage to stand for something.

But the establishment refuses to follow this path to victory. In some districts, state and local GOP leaders have changed bylaws, blocked campaign donations and endorsements, all for the purpose of preventing grassroots candidates from gaining momentum. The state ILGOP even weaponizes its mail program to the benefit of the RINO’s across the state, all to the detriment of the grassroots conservative candidates. Why? Because the establishment would rather lose with one of their own than win with someone they can’t control.

Beating RINOs isn’t easy — they’ve got more money, the party connections, and the media’s ear. But grassroots conservatives have the numbers, the passion, and the truth on their side. Here’s

Tom DeVore’s RINO Removal PAC playbook for how grassroots can take on the establishment and win:

RINOs thrive on voter apathy and low-turnout primaries. The key to beating them is building strong, local conservative networks:

1) We must get organized locally.

2) Identify and support real conservative candidates not backed by the establishment.

3) Win the information war by exposing RINOs based on their political actions.

4) Outwork the RINOs by dominating primary turnout: Most RINOs win because only 10– 20% of voters show up in the primary. Grassroots can flip a race by mobilizing just a few thousand extra voters.

While we won’t be able to out-raise the politically connected RINOs dollar for dollar, that is not necessary to win. What we need to do however is build a war chest powered by small donors, local support, and everyday people who are tired of being sold out by the establishment RINOs.

The Tom DeVore RINO removal PAC is committed to working on behalf of the forgotten parents, children, veterans, and small business owners who believe the establishment RINOs are destroying the Republican Party from within. If we can remove the RINO’s and replace them with principled conservative Republicans, together we can take back our state!

Lead RINO Hunter,

Tom DeVore