I grew up in Springfield and have lived in Illinois all my life. Illinois is a Red State if you throw out Cook County (Chicago). In the last Governors election, the Republican Candidate Bill Brady carried 100 of the 102 counties and still lost.
Unfortunately, in Central Illinois we’re seeing politicians trash their values to enhance their careers . Did you know Dick Durbin is from Springfield, and when he was a Congressman he supported an amendment to the Constitution to permanently overturn Roe vs. Wade. Of course now that he’s number 2 in the Senate it’s follow the party line and the hell with the constituents.
Also Ray Lahood, Republican Congressman for many years from Peoria is now Transportation Secretary and walking the Obama red line.
I guess LaHood and Durbin just evolved. Sad that one county can determine the path a state takes. This was my second visit, the first being Carbondale, and enjoyed myself. Springfield was really neat. Always something going on in the downtown area. Lots and lots of folks down there with their families having a grand old time.