Southern Wisconsin Times

Republican National Committee delegates from Wisconsin and Illinois joined several high-profile GOP figures for a private strategy event this week at a residence in Lake Geneva — a gathering that underscores the region's political significance as a cross-state hub of conservative influence.

Attendees included Illinois Republican National Committeeman Dean White; Wisconsin RNC Committeeman Terry Dittrich; Cook County GOP Chairman Aaron Del Mar, who has been mentioned as a possible Illinois gubernatorial candidate; and Barrett Davie, founder of Citizen Farmers and campaign technology firm Surus GOP and a former state Senate candidate from Lake County, Illinois.

Grassroots leader Kristina McCloy, founder of Concerned Parents of Illinois, also attended.

Concerned Parents of Illinois founder Kristina McCloy (left) speaks at the private event. | Facebook / Kristina McCloy

“Thanks to my favorite Republican guys for crashing our ladies event yesterday!” McCloy said in a Facebook post including photos from the gathering.

While no formal announcements emerged from the meeting, the gathering reflects a move among key GOP operatives to align early and strategically ahead of critical gubernatorial and legislative races across both states.  

Del Mar’s presence fueled speculation about his possible 2026 ambitions. The former Illinois GOP co-chair and 2022 lieutenant governor candidate who recently returned as chair of the Cook County Republican Party has hinted at a statewide run for governor. 

At a Lincoln Day Dinner earlier this year, Del Mar said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker governs with a Chicago-centric focus and warns against a crowded Republican primary. He also accused Pritzker of interfering in past primaries and speculated the governor may opt out of re-election to focus on a potential 2028 presidential campaign.

Dittrich has also previously called for party unity ahead of the 2026 election cycle. 

Speaking at the Wisconsin GOP convention last month, Dittrich urged party leaders to end internal divisions and rally behind a shared conservative agenda, emphasizing the importance of building infrastructure for future leadership under figures like Vice President JD Vance and advancing President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.

White is expected to take on an increasingly prominent role in shaping the state’s Republican strategy going into 2026.

In a November 2024 column in the Illinois Review, White called for principled, results-driven leadership rooted in hard work and accountability, and encouraged Republicans to engage with “the values of hard work, personal responsibility, anchored in the deep belief of American exceptionalism.”

The private event in Lake Geneva drew a strong turnout. (Facebook / Kristina McCloy).