Republicans gather at Illinois State Fair to drum up excitement for election, urge early voting

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) -- Thursday was Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

The party faithful gathered to drum up energy and excitement for the November election.

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And party leaders are pushing for early voting and party unity.

Republicans may be the super minority party in Illinois, but, as they came together Thursday, there was a sense of hope that maybe this election cycle they can bring about some change.

At the Republican county chair's breakfast, leaders rallied the troops, and issued a call to action with a different approach toward voting.

"We will work hard to bank as many pre-Election Day votes as possible, and overwhelm the Democrats with Republican votes because the political party that votes for weeks and months will mathematically beat the party that only goes for one day," Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi said. "If we can look at what joins us, not what divides us, there's no stopping us. Because Republican unity on this mission for all candidates on the ballot puts us on the right track."

Republicans are hoping to regain some momentum that they felt after the Republican National Convention last month, to blunt the Democrats' current wave of enthusiasm for Kamala Harris ahead of their own convention.

SEE MORE: Democrats rally at Illinois State Fair days ahead of DNC in Chicago

"I mean, the excitement was there. It was real. It was palpable. And certainly on the heels of that, the Democrats saw, and they had to make a change really quickly. I call what they've got going on now a blip. And it certainly is a blip," Chair Rhonda Belford said.

House Republican Leader Tony McCombie agreed.

"I think they are excited because it's not Biden. They didn't plan properly, and now they're cleaning up their mess," McCombie said.

Guest speaker Matt Whitaker was acting attorney general when Donald Trump was president.

"What I see right now is what you would expect. We're in a honeymoon period with Kamala Harris; the left is so excited that they have a candidate with a pulse. That's a fairly low bar," Whitaker said.

Republicans are honing their messaging around grass roots, kitchen table issues, seeing the economy as a top concern for voters.

"I think it's really incumbent upon us right now to stop, reflect and make sure we remind people what this party truly stands for and what this party has done," said state Sen. John Curran, Senate minority leader. "This is about cost of living. This is about corruption; this is about crime and taxes. We got to stick to those core issues here in Illinois and continue to message that."

"When you're out doing a speech, the three Cs: Crime, corruption, cost of living, it resonates with everyone. And you can fit everything into those silos," state Senate Assistant Republican Leader Terri Bryant said.

Republicans are also hopeful about gaining a few seats in the state legislature, and maybe even flipping some suburban congressional districts.

A rally Thursday was delayed by rain, but the enthusiasm of party members who came from around the state was not dampened.

"Look, I'm feeling really good about November from a national standpoint, because, and actually even a little bit into the state, because, for the first time, Trump's policies have coattails," said Jeanne Ives, a former state representative.

Taunya Madden was an alternate delegate at the RNC.

"I just got back from Milwaukee, and I'm on fire. So, I'm excited to be here today," Taunya Madden said.