Dupage Policy Journal

When it comes to the chances of Republicans holding significant slots in the Illinois state government, Paul Santucci sees an uphill battle ahead.

Santucci, who lost his bid to represent District 42 to incumbent Rep. Linda Holmes, told the DuPage Policy Journal the people in his district don’t relate to the GOP.

“The Republican brand is dead!” he said. “There are only approximately 40% base Republican voters left in DuPage and the collar counties. We will never win with 40%!”

Many of Illinois' counties are Republican, but Chicago and its suburbs hold sway, and they vote overwhelmingly Democratic, Fox 2 News has said. 

Democrats have owned the Illinois legislature for years, controlling the state Senate since 2003 and the House since 1997, according to Ballotpedia. 

With the support of the greater Chicago voter, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker was re-elected. "To the many Illinoisans who exercised their civic duty at the polls or by mail: thank you for believing in our democracy,” Pritzker tweeted. “I serve ALL the people of Illinois and I look forward to working for you these next four years.” 

Santucci said he knew the Democrats would take DuPage, but what he didn’t realize was how strong their hold was elsewhere. 

“I knew DuPage was a lost cause for Republicans, but I didn’t realize Dems also have the majority in Kane, Kendall and Will counties as well,” Santucci said. “I thought with the redistricting of half of my senate district it would give me a chance to pull off an upset. I received 41% of the vote in most of the precincts in the district. The social issues – especially the abortion issue – is what killed us. We will not be able to flip any voters and will lose all women independents, if we continue to push the anti-abortion platform. As much as I am personally pro-life, you have to stay neutral in that topic politically.”

Going forward, he said the Republican Party has to consider some core changes to its platform.

“Take away the pro-life agenda and fight for people's rights on the social issues,” he said. “Our fiscal, pro-business, pro-safety and anti-crime policies are on the correct side of a majority of people. We need to give the voters a reason to not make civil rights and abortion the only reason to absolutely not consider nor vote for any Republican.”

He also said the party has to break ties to former President Donald Trump.

“We have to 100% denounce Trump and anything that has to do with Trump, whether we agree with him or not,” Santucci said. “His anti-women language and crudeness make him toxic to all women and most independents.”

Statewide, he decried the lack of GOP leadership.

"The Illinois GOP is a joke. The last leader was a Democrat,” he said. Until stronger leaders step forward, the party won’t draw viable candidates, he added. The goal would be, “We have to appeal to the independents and the moderate Dems to have a chance.”

With the loss, he said he plans to serve out his term as a trustee and run for Township Supervisor in 2025.