Last Chance To Break Free From Pitzker's Failed Machine

THE STAND

August 17, 2025•7 min read

The Republican Surge: Illinois’ Last Chance to Break Free from Pritzker’s Failed Machine

Ted Dabrowski and James Mendrick ignite a GOP rebellion in 2026 — but to win, Republicans must confront not only JB Pritzker’s record of decline, but also their own weak leadership.

By Mike Monseur — August 17, 2025

A State on the Brink

Illinois is bleeding.

Families are packing up and leaving, businesses are shuttering, and entire communities are struggling to survive under the weight of high taxes and rising crime.

Governor JB Pritzker, flush with billions of his personal fortune, is betting that voters will give him a third term.

But Illinoisans are restless.

Approval ratings have turned against Pritzker for the first time.

A July 2025 Lincoln Poll shows 50.2% of likely voters now view him unfavorably, compared to just 47.2% favorably.

Even worse for Democrats, 60% of voters say high taxes are the single biggest issue facing the state.

The question is no longer whether Illinoisans are unhappy.

The question is whether Republicans are finally ready to rise to the moment — or whether weak leadership will doom them again.

Ted Dabrowski: The Policy Hawk with Global Credibility

Into this storm steps Ted Dabrowski, president of Wirepoints and a longtime fiscal watchdog.

Dabrowski is not a typical politician.

With two decades in international banking, from Citibank Poland to Treasury posts in Mexico, and academic credentials from Georgia Tech, Wharton, and the University of Chicago, he’s uniquely prepared to confront Illinois’ financial collapse.

His parents’ immigrant journey — from Poland and Ecuador to Chicago — fuels his mission to restore the American Dream for Illinois families.

“For 15 years I've been working on reporting on Illinois, on these problems, suggesting a lot of solutions, and what I've seen is the state continue to go downhill,” Dabrowski told reporters.

His campaign zeroes in on the issues voters feel daily:

Property taxes that drive families out.
Gas taxes and fees that punish workers.
Schools where reading scores lag behind the nation.
Jobs that are fleeing faster than Illinois can replace them.

Dabrowski doesn’t mince words:

“Illinois’ problems have nothing to do with Donald Trump…He can’t fix the property taxes. He can’t fix the gas taxes. He can’t fix our outmigration. We have to fix it.”

James Mendrick: The Sheriff Who Knows the Streets

While Dabrowski offers policy depth, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick brings a proven record of leadership on crime and community safety.

Twice elected — the second time without opposition — Mendrick is respected for practical, bipartisan governance.

“I know how politics works out there… I think I can do a lot better than most other candidates,” he said when launching his campaign.

Mendrick isn’t just another “law-and-order” candidate.

He emphasizes evidence-based solutions and cross-party cooperation, promising to keep families safe without the empty slogans.

On national politics, he stays measured but clear:

“So far what I’m seeing, financially, it looks like [Trump’s] doing pretty good… I can’t think of anything that he’s doing right now that I would disagree with.”

Republican Senate Leader John Curran praised Mendrick but warned: “You got to get out there, and you got to build a base of support.”

The Rest of the Field: A Party Wakes Up

After years of Democratic dominance, Republicans are fielding candidates across statewide offices:

Don Tracy, former state GOP chair, running for U.S. Senate: “For working families, it’s become unaffordable… especially in Illinois, where we have – on top of inflation – we have high taxes.”
Joe Severino, another gubernatorial contender.
Bob Fioretti, running for attorney general.
Diane Harris, Joliet Junior College trustee, seeking secretary of state on a reform platform.

For the first time in years, the GOP bench looks serious.

But will it be enough against Pritzker’s checkbook and the Democratic machine?

Pritzker’s Illinois: A Record of Decline

Eight years of Pritzker have left Illinois in deeper crisis:

Population collapse: Since 2020, Illinois has lost more than 300,000 residents. Families flee to Indiana, Texas, and Florida where taxes are lower and opportunity greater.
The tax squeeze: Illinois property taxes are the second-highest in the nation. Retirees and young families alike are being driven out.
Failing schools: Even with record spending, Illinois students remain below the national average in reading and math. The investment is wasted; the kids are cheated.
Crime and chaos: The SAFE-T Act and no-cash bail rollout left communities fearful, sparking bipartisan backlash.

Real people are paying the price.

Maria Lopez, a small business owner in Joliet:

“I love Illinois, but I can’t afford to stay here anymore. Everything costs more — rent, food, utilities — and nothing is getting better.”

Retiree Jack Thompson from Rockford put it bluntly:

“I worked my whole life here, but my property taxes are higher than my mortgage ever was. I can’t survive this way.”

Parents like Angela Rivera in Cicero voice frustration:

“My kids’ school spends more than ever, but they’re falling behind. What are we paying for?”

This isn’t leadership. It’s managed decline.

Machine Politics: Pritzker and the Illinois Legacy

Illinois’ long, ugly history of corruption is no secret.

Four of its last ten governors — Blagojevich, Ryan, Walker, Kerner — ended up in prison.

House Speaker Mike Madigan was finally toppled after decades of power and scandal.

Pritzker, though not personally indicted, is seen by many as the continuation of that legacy — an entrenched billionaire funding the same old machine politics, with money as the weapon and voters as collateral.

The Illinois GOP: Its Own Worst Enemy?

But here’s the other hard truth: Republicans cannot win Illinois unless they reform themselves.

For too long, the party has been fractured, retreating to rural counties while conceding suburbs and cities. Leadership failures have left the GOP without message, momentum, or muscle.

Many activists argue the current leadership hasn’t taken the party forward — it has dragged it backward.

To seize the opening in 2026, Republicans must:

Install new leadership: The old guard has failed. Fresh, disciplined leaders with vision must take charge.
Recruit and back serious candidates: Illinoisans are desperate for solutions, not placeholders.
Unite around reform: Affordability, safety, and opportunity must define the GOP brand.
Mobilize suburban and grassroots outreach: The battle will be won or lost in the collar counties and urban neighborhoods.

Without this shift, even strong candidates like Dabrowski and Mendrick could be drowned out by Pritzker’s billions and the entrenched Democratic machine.

A Vision for Reform: What Republicans Could Deliver

If Illinois GOP leaders unify, they can offer voters a powerful alternative:

Real property tax relief to stop families and retirees from being taxed out of their homes.
School reform and choice, ensuring children get value for every dollar spent.
Balanced justice reform that prioritizes community safety while ensuring accountability.
Fiscal discipline to end budget gimmicks and restore trust in government.

This isn’t just about beating Democrats.

It’s about rebuilding Illinois.

The Road Ahead: A Historic Crossroads

Illinois stands at a historic crossroads.

Other deep-blue states — New York, New Jersey, Virginia — have seen Republican surges when affordability and crime became unbearable.