With a change in party in the state chief executive’s office, Governor’s Day at the State Fair this year will be set aside for Republicans, while Democrat Day will follow.
In a longstanding bow to the importance of politics in Illinois, each major party gets its day at the fair.
This year, Gov. Bruce Rauner is expected to be the headliner on Wednesday, Aug. 19.
“Republicans are excited to have their first Governor’s Day in 12 years,” said Nick Klitzing, executive director of the state GOP. “We will take the opportunity to celebrate Governor Rauner and show our commitment to his efforts to turn around Illinois.”
Republicans also will display their support for candidates up for election in 2016, he said, including U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, Comptroller Leslie Munger and GOP members of Congress.
“With the success of 2014, Republicans have a renewed sense of excitement, which we plan to build upon,” he said.
Among events that day, Klitzing said, will be a joint meeting in Springfield of the GOP state central committee and the Republican County Chairmen’s Association.
Other than the comptroller’s race — for a two-year term to finish out the four-year term originally won by Republican Judy Baar Topinka — other state constitutional officers including the governor aren’t up for re-election until 2018. Topinka died after her 2014 re-election, and Rauner named Munger to replace her.
Democrat Day, which will be on Thursday, Aug. 20, will lead off with brunch at the Hilton Springfield, hosted by the Democratic County Chairmen’s Association, said association President Mike Mathis.
The annual gathering generally features Democratic officeholders and candidates speaking to a ballroom full of the party faithful.
“Every election’s important and this is no exception,” Mathis said of the coming 2016 contests. “Having a Republican governor makes it more important, I think. We have strong ties with the unions, and we want to make sure that they stay protected as well.”
For several years, both parties also had formal rallies at the state Fairgrounds. Republicans did last year, with then-governor nominee Rauner riding up to the entrance of the Director’s Lawn at the fair on his motorcycle, followed by other bikers.
Democrats, on their day last year, featured then-Gov. Pat Quinn saying he wanted to be “a champion of everyday people who live paycheck to paycheck.”
Republicans sent an anti-Quinn mascot to the Democratic rally at the fairgrounds last year — a character called “Quinnocchio,” a Pinocchio-like character. Democrats featured their own character — Baron Von Moneybags — at their own rally, supposed to represent rich people for Rauner.
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