Illinois is what I call a 1 bomb state.
New York City
Chicago
Minneapolis
Denver
Seattle
Portland
Occupied Northern Virginia
Philly
Milwaukee
Detroit
Albuquerque
Las Vegas
For the low low cost of 12 well placed nukes there would be 12 new Red states.
You forgot Austin.
Air Burst at 5000-7000 feet will erase the cities with minimal fallout. Plant grass, ship in some Bison and make them start over.