They are a branch of the Illinois Democrats.
The land of Lincoln and Reagan, is bereft of conservative representation, having played itself out with Bob Michel, followed by Dennis Hastert, as examples.
When you leave on the high note of a House Speaker diddling young boys, you get a sense of what the Illinois GOP strives to be.
During the reign of Illinois Governor James R. Thompson, who served from 1977-1991, the establishment Republicans gladly rode on the coattails of President Ronald W. Reagan while refusing to accept the conservatism of the Reagan Revolution. Thompson preferred to promote moderates and leftist Republicans. He also engaged in all types of deals with the Democrats in the name of bipartisanship. Every deal benefited the Democrats and weakened the Republicans.
It is going to take a major sea change to restore the GOP in Illinois after decades of neglect.