Since last year, when we sent our members to different states (Missouri and Virginia) to assist Republican Party candidates in key races, we have been willing to go out of our areas, to help our fellow party members, in need of assistance.

It was recognized by many that of the 19 U.S. House of Representatives contests throughout the state of Illinois, the two most competitive would be in the 6th and 8th Congressional Districts.

Both of these districts are in suburban Chicago, which is about a four-hour drive away from us (here in central Illinois). Nonetheless, our former UIS CR member, Jeffrey Isbell, was now serving as a Field Representative, for the College Republican National Committee, and had the resources and vigor to get us involved in these races.

In the 6th U.S. House District, the very-Honorable Henry Hyde was retiring. The Republican nominee for this Congressional seat was conservative State Senator Peter Roskam.
*** This race was seen as the bellwether Congressional race, that could determine whether we would maintain control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the 8th U.S. House District (which was held by conservative leader Phil Crane, before he was defeated in the last election by Democrat Melissa Bean), there was a spirited [and sometimes nasty] primary fight, which resulted in David McSweeney emerging as our nominee, to attempt to win back this seat.

Because these races were so critical, national and statewide GOP celebrity-type leaders came in, to host fundraisers and rallies for Mr. Roskam and Mr. McSweeney. This gave an additional incentive for College Republicans from Springfield to come up, to assist in these key races, while also being able to meet well-known national leaders.



The first of these trips took place on Thursday, October 5th, when UIS CRs travelled to Schaumburg, to rally for Peter Roskam and David McSweeney, at an event featuring "America's Mayor" Rudy Giuliani, and former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. Our members who attended got to personally meet both of these nationally-known Republican leaders.