Illinois GOP plans to send trio of delegates to N.C. to nominate Trump

Illinois Republicans plan to send three delegates to their party’s presidential nominating convention next week, but there will be no delegation brunches, news conferences — or just about anything else beyond nominating Donald Trump, apparently.

“No other media advised events organized by the ILGOP are taking place next week,” state GOP spokesman Joe Hackler said in an email to reporters.

The state GOP’s move is the complete opposite of their Democratic counterparts, who were told to stay home but have streamed state caucus meetings and news conferences for the media and others to follow along.

State Republican Chairman Tim Schneider, National Committeeman Richard Porter and National Committeewoman Demetra Demonte are planning to travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, to nominate President Donald Trump as the party’s presidential nominee.

Republicans plan to have 336 delegates at the Charlotte Convention Center, six from each state and territory, according the convention website. Republican National Committee events on Friday and Sunday are not open to the media.

Hackler didn’t respond to a request for comment on why Illinois Republicans are not planning any media events.

Charlotte will be the site of the party’s official convention business Monday, though much of the convention had been slated to be moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

In a surprise move last month, Trump cancelled the Florida portion of the convention after that state saw new coronavirus cases surge. In announcing that decision, the president said at a news conference “it’s time to cancel the Jacksonville, Florida, component of the GOP convention” though the limited North Carolina portion would go on.