Dupage Policy Journal

Thomas DeVore, a former candidate for Attorney General and a private practice attorney based in Greenville, is raising questions about the authenticity of Hinsdale Village President candidate Greg Hart's campaign platform.  

"I find this constant tug of war between the traditional Republican base and those like Greg who believe that if they move a little more toward the Democrats, they can win over moderate Democrats," DeVore told the DuPage Policy Journal. "I see Greg as one of those types of people – a Kinzinger-type.”

Former GOP Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger, a vocal anti-Trump voice pardoned by former president Joe Biden for his role on the Jan. 6 Committee, spoke against a second Trump term at the Democratic National Convention in August 2024. Critics, including many of his own family members, have accused Kinzinger of betraying his country with his attacks on the former president. 

Hart is running unopposed in the April 1 election after Thomas Cauley, Jr. dropped out, with some suggesting it was a handshake deal that cleared the path for Hart to secure the city's top position.

In past social media posts Hart, has been critical of former President Donald Trump, reiterated his belief that Trump is "not fit to be leader of the free world," calling out the former president’s record. Hart urged Republicans to “do the right thing for the country and our party” by distancing themselves from Trump and nominating someone more electable in 2024.

Hart also expressed strong support for the LGBT community and BLM in other posts. 

“Americans have inalienable rights to liberty and equality – and this includes the right to love who they love,” he posted. 

He also wished a “happy Pride Month to all who celebrate” and added, “I’m proud to be an ally of the LGBTQ community.” 

Hart's ties to  such movements have fueled suspicion that he may not align with the broader values of the Illinois GOP. 

Hart also criticized Trump on Memorial Day. 

“Today is about honoring brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he wrote. “Please, former President Trump, take one day to honor our fallen soldiers instead of honoring your own ego.”

Finally, Hart praised Joe Biden following the former president’s choice to drop his re-election bid, a disastrous debate performance in which the former president’s dementia was obvious. 

“Thank you to President Biden for his decades of public service to our Nation,” Hart wrote. 

DeVore didn't mince words when discussing the future of the Republican Party, suggesting that figures like Hart—whom he believes is being groomed for a statewide run by the state GOP—and others are more focused on avoiding political conflict than on fighting for the party's ideals.

"People like Hart—are never going to energize the Republican base," he said. "He’s going to disenfranchise them because of his character."

DeVore said such posts should have consequences. 

“If you're going to take those positions as a Republican, then own them,” DeVore said. “You have to suffer the consequences or reap the benefits. But now he tries to pivot, and all of a sudden, those issues aren't a concern anymore.” 

DeVore expressed frustration with Hart’s apparent shift on issues, accusing him of scrubbing his social media presence to distance himself from his earlier political positions. 

"He scrubbed his Facebook and all of a sudden, the Trump-related content, the criticisms—gone," DeVore said. "It's just, you know, that's what I'm talking about with this guy. It's like, be genuine if you're going to be anything and then I don't see that as being genuine."

DeVore pointed to Hart’s past criticisms of President Trump as a key example of why he finds it hard to trust Hart’s sudden embrace of Republican values. 

"If he was that negative on the president, you can't just say, 'Oh, I’m not negative on the president anymore,'" DeVore explained. "That’s more than a party affiliation; that’s a personal attack on the leader of the party."

DeVore is not alone. GOP activist Val Ojeda previously criticized Hart, calling him a "100% RINO" and accusing him of being a "closet Democrat" and "fake" Republican. Ojeda claims Hart's 2022 campaign for DuPage County Chairman, where he ran as an independent and supported pro-choice policies, alienated GOP voters.

The controversy surrounding Hart’s candidacy also extends to the broader party. 

DeVore pointed to what he sees as a growing trend of Republican candidates who aren’t willing to fight for their party’s principles. 

"People like Hart and others in this party seem comfortable being in the super minority," DeVore said. "They don’t want to put in the effort to become competitive. They don’t want to energize the base, and that’s what we need right now."

DeVore, who has been working to increase Republican voter turnout in Illinois, explained that many Republicans have simply given up hope. 

"The Republican votes are there,” he said. “They already exist to beat the Democrats. We just don’t have the ability to get them to turn out. I don’t believe we need people like Greg Hart representing the Republican brand."

As DeVore continued to emphasize the importance of genuine conservative values, he also took aim at other political figures he believes are similarly weak in their commitment to party principles. 

“I'm no fan of (House Minority Leader) Tony (McCombie) politically—but she doesn't have the courage to bring the fight to the Democrats,” he said. “If she takes us from a super minority to a more competitive stance, Democrats will come after her in a contested primary, and I don't know if she wants that. And that's what we're dealing with in Illinois—a lack of real fight."

DeVore said he remains committed to working toward a more energized and engaged Republican electorate, even as he takes aim at the figures he believes are undermining that goal. 

"This party needs real fighters," he said. "And right now, I don’t see that from Greg Hart."

DeVore previously took aim at Hart on Facebook, describing him as a "chameleon within the GOP" who has aligned himself with the "woke" wing of politics, particularly through his connections to pro-LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter groups.

DeVore described Hart as “a Trump hater” connected more with progressive causes than conservative ones. 

He also raised concerns about Hart’s connection to Kari Galassi, a co-chair of Hart’s campaign committee, who is also involved in the finance committee of the ILGOP. DeVore questioned why a candidate with these views was allowed to raise funds for the ILGOP, expressing concern about the state party’s involvement with Hart.