Membership Newsletter – February 2024

We Made It!

Election Integrity

We are in need of more Republican Election Judges for the primary in March. The training is being scheduled and there is a pay increase for 2024. Contact the Elections Dept (618) 825-2377

President Trump to Remain 

on the Ballot in Illinois

By State Rep. Kevin Schmidt

It is not often I can write about something positive the State of Illinois has done and so when those occasions do occur, it is important to point them out.

I am, of course, referring to the Illinois State Board of Elections decision to allow President Donald Trump to remain on the ballot in Illinois. They agreed with the hearing officer’s assessment that it is the courts – not the Illinois State Board of Elections – who should decide the legalities of the 14^th Amendment objections far-left activists are using to try to bar ballot access to President Trump.

This decision is the right one. Had the Illinois State Board of Elections voted to kick President Trump off the ballot – it would have had no bearing on the court cases. It would have instead been nothing more than a sheer act of partisanship – something the nonpartisan State Board of Elections is not supposed to do.

In the end, I believe the U.S. Supreme Court will squash these ridiculous efforts to prevent President Trump from being on the ballot. The idea that someone admonishing his supporters to “peacefully protest” is somehow an insurrectionist is insane. Only in the mind of leftists does the words “Peacefully Protest” mean “Stage an Insurrection.”

The continued harassment of President Trump is, in the long run, bad for the country. Regardless of what people may think about President Trump, he deserves to have the opportunity to run for office. Disagreeing with someone politically is not grounds to use the courts to silence your opponent. America is not a banana republic. What is happening to President Trump is wrong and for the sake of our country, the integrity of our elections and the rule of law, I pray the U.S. Supreme does the right thing and puts an end to the outrageous efforts to have President Trump removed from the ballot.

The Gala Deadline is Here

The 2024 Lincoln Gala is Saturday, Feb 10th. The deadline for making your reservations is Feb 2nd. Those tickets can be purchased here.

In addition to meeting candidates in person, you will be entertained by a Lincoln Presenter. The IL Speaker of the House, Rep. Tony McCombie is our featured speaker for the evening. There will be auction items, similiar to what is shown here, available to place your bids. To see other possibilities, check out the webpage, Gala Items.

Recently Long9Studio did a live taping of their weekly recording in Edwardsville. Guests were Sen Jason Plumnmer, Sen Erica Harriss, and Rep Kevin Schmidt. The moderator, Collin Corbett, has a mission description for this production: Equipping center-right leaders like Abraham Lincoln in Illinois, statesmen who can lead us into the future. We need to get back to our roots. Through this channel we will train center-right leaders on political strategy and tactics, inform our audience about news and what’s happening behind the scenes in Illinois politics, and promote elected officials and community activists who are leading like Lincoln, all while being entertaining.

IL-13th District

There are two races in St Clair which have a primary, meaning there are at least two Republican candidates running for that office, each hoping to be the one who will be on the November ballot. Last month’s newsletter we featured the race in the IL-12 District between Mike Bost and Darren Bailey. This month we are looking at the IL-13 District.

This area went through the redistricting of 2021 and came out one of the most gerrymandered districts in IL. It spans Central and Southern Illinois – covering Macoupin County and parts of St. Clair, Madison, Sangamon, Piatt, Macon, and Champaign Counties. In St Clair County It touches the northern tip of Columbia in the southwest, curves north to Our Lady of the Snows, almost reaches Eckert’s before the boundary heads north to cut O’Fallon in half, then moves west to take in Caseyville before going into Collinsville. The narrow district then takes in Springfield, most of Decatur and loops Champaign-Urbana as the uppermost portion of the district. The district is 200 miles long and barely 15 miles wide. From Wikipedia: “The redistricting turned the 13th district from a fairly even district to a more heavily Democratic-leaning one, and consequently it elected a Democratic representative for the first time since 1892.”

Two candidates are looking to run against Democrat incumbent Budzinski in November.

Thomas Clatterbuck, is one of the Republican candidates for the Illinois’ 13th Congressional district. He will be the guest speaker at the February Republican Women’s Club meeting.
America is faced with a historical moment. Technological innovations are presenting us with choices about what kind of future we want. These questions need answers right now.
We have to choose if self driving vehicles will trigger a manufacturing boom in the US, or if they will be another way China can spy on us.
We have to choose if workers will have the right to say no to biometric scanning and implanted microchips, or if big business will be allowed to force these decisions on them.
We have to choose if we want an ecosystem of human artists enriching our lives, or if computers will be allowed to strip mine our creative commons.
We have to choose if we will draw a hard line against automated weapons, or if we will unleash Skynet by playing with fire?
Right now we have been given a window to act. Right now, the cost of our choices is at an all time low. But that window is closing, and the price is rising.
That’s why Thomas is running.
His family moved to Jacksonville over 30 years ago, and he has lived in Central Illinois ever since. He graduated from the University of Illinois at both Urbana-Champaign and Springfield with a B.A. in history from UIS.
After graduating, Thomas took advantage of all the opportunities Springfield had to offer. He worked in the Springfield startup scene where he joined with other local entrepreneurs to start a watchdog media company. He has also worked in the courthouse helping people without lawyers get the legal information they needed to navigate the courts. While there he joined the office union.
When the Covid shutdown make in-person reporting impossible, Thomas made the decision to go back to school to pursue a law degree. He wanted to do more than just tell people to call legal aid. While campaigning, Thomas will be finishing up his law degree this spring. For more details, check out his website.

Joshua Loyd: A Patriot for Change in Illinois 13

Joshua Loyd, compelled by dedication, integrity, and a passion for service, is stepping up to represent Illinois’s 13 in the US Congress. His journey into politics began at a young age, influenced by his father who introduced him to various Republican events. As he matured, Joshua took the reins into his own hands.

At the age of 18, Joshua ran for the precinct committee and emerged victorious, showcasing his commitment to community engagement and leadership. His political acumen further flourished as he contributed to significant campaigns, including working on the Terri Bryant for House campaign (Now Senator Bryant) and supporting Mike Bost’s initial run for the US Congress.

Joshua’s commitment to public service extends beyond politics. He represented Illinois state in Washington DC for Career Technical Student Organizations, passionately advocating for Perkins funding which sustains trade schools nationally. Following high school, Joshua enlisted in the military, soon followed by attending and later earning a degree in Business Management from West Point – The United States Military Academy.

Among his notable achievements are three Presidential Volunteer Service Awards, with the Gold standard marking his highest level of dedication. Joshua continues to volunteer for various organizations, driven by his unwavering principles of God, Country, and Family.

Motivated by firsthand experiences of the inefficiencies within the current government system, Joshua Loyd is on a mission to change the direction of Government. His campaign for US Congress is fueled by a desire to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely, not wasted. Witnessing veterans wait years for essential medical treatment and the squandering of resources has fueled Joshua’s determination to bring change.

Joshua Loyd is not just going to Washington DC; he’s going to fight for your hard-earned dollars to be spent judiciously or returned to your pockets. His mission includes combating corruption, advocating for justice, and upholding constitutional rights. With Joshua Loyd at the helm, Illinois 13 can expect a representative who truly embodies the principles of service, accountability, and a brighter future for all. loydforcongress.com/