Politics & Government
Reports: Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles Will Step Down Tuesday
Various sources say the beleaguered Illinois chairman of the Grand Old Party will announce his resignation Tuesday, following several attempts to oust him for his support of gay marriage.
The Daily Herald and a number of other media sources are reporting Monday night that Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles will resign Tuesday.
Brady was unavailable for comment, but several of Brady's friends confirmed to the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times that Brady would make the announcement.
Brady had come under fire from a group of Republican Central Committee members—led by state Sen. Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove—who were reportedly upset by Brady's personal support of gay marriage. Brady had called several Republicans as a personal citizen, asking them to endorse state legislation for gay marriage.
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The position runs contrary to the state and national Republican Party platform.
Brady has survived at least three ouster attempts in part because of support from U.S. Mark Kirk's office and others.
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Brady's term would have expired in 2014, and he had fought to leave the party on his own terms, but the Daily Herald reports that he is leaving not only because of political pressure but for personal reasons. His wife, Julie, has ovarian cancer and has been battling against the disease for two years.
