Chicago, IL – After Sep 10th’s presidential debate, the Democratic Party of Illinois is wondering if the Illinois GOP supports Donald Trump’s latest lies about post-birth abortion, his rejection that he lost the 2020 election, his tired playbook of insults and attempted intimidation, his denying of his involvement in Jan. 6^th, his “misunderstanding” of Harris’ ethnic background, his racial profiling of immigrants as criminals, his anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and his admission that he doesn’t consult with his wildly unpopular vice presidential pick JD Vance. Spoiler alert: they likely do. In response to a debate where Illinois watched a qualified and policy-focused Kamala Harris speak directly to the American people, DPI Chair Lisa Hernandez released the following statement:

“On Sep 10th, Illinoisans saw the stark contrast between Vice President Harris’ vision for a new way forward that protects our fundamental freedoms, strengthens our democracy, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead–and Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda which will clear the path for Trump to have virtually unchecked power over our lives, to give more tax breaks to his billionaire friends at working families’ expense, gut Illinoisans’ hard-earned benefits, and ban abortion nationwide.

“Donald Trump reminds us that he’s the worst of this nation: bigoted, disgraceful, disrespectful and unwilling to actually listen—and help—working families.

“Illinois is thriving because of Democratic leadership—from boosting economic growth to protecting health care access. Yet, the Illinois GOP wants to roll back progress with outdated policies that harm middle-class families.

“The Harris-Walz ticket is our path forward. Illinois is the cornerstone of the Midwest Blue Wall—protecting freedoms, investing in communities, and standing strong for working families. Under Democratic leadership, our state is a safe haven for reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and economic opportunity. The IL GOP would follow Trump’s lead and tear it all down.”