Republicans rallied to gather support Aug, 15 at the Illinois State Fair for the 2020 election.
Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said he was proud to be the Illinois House of Representatives Republican leader.
"I am so happy to be joined here," Durkin said at the event. "We see our neighbors are leaving. There are a lack of companies big and small. The Democrats are clearly out of touch with the citizens of Illinois."
Durkin asked event participants to please do whatever they can for the Republicans running in their areas.
"It makes a difference," Durkin said. "We lost many seats by less than 1 percent in the last election."
Durkin said in the 2020 election, Republicans need to gain only four seats to get House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) out of the top spot for the House.
State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said Republicans have challenges ahead.
"We’ve clearly got some challenges ahead of us, but Democrats are taking us for granted," Brady said.
U.S. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said that in every single quarter under President Barack Obama, there was less than 2 percent growth, pointing to how Democrats were harming America.
"Even during the Great Depression, it didn’t last that long," Scalise said. "It’s because we had that failed liberal leadership. We know our ideas work."
Scalise said he hoped to see a merit-based system for immigration.
"As you’re fighting in Illinois to take your state back and fight the machine, you’re fighting for freedom," Scalise said.
Scalise said he also didn't agree with U.S. House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)'s Green New Deal, calling it radical, and that he believed everyone needed to stand with law enforcement and with the president.
"President (Donald) Trump is standing with Israel, and we all should be standing with Israel," Scalise said. "We need to stand with our friend Israel all the time."
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