Effingham County Republicans on Friday celebrated the return of Donald Trump to the White House during their annual Lincoln Day Dinner at the Thelma Keller Convention Center.
With Election Day on Tuesday, local GOP leaders urged attendees to get out to vote, saying local elections like the races now being contested are as important as state and national contests.
One of the featured speakers, U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Mahomet, talked about efforts to reform elections.
“We are going to be working to secure our elections,” she told the audience, garnering applause. “We are going to pass a voter ID law.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphsyboro, could not attend the dinner because he was leading a bipartisan Congressional delegation to Japan over the weekend to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“It’s an exciting time for our country right now with President Trump and Vice President Vance in office – and I am lock-step with them as we work to make America great again,” he told the audience via a recorded video.
Darren Bailey, a former state representative, state senator and gubernatorial candidate, alluded to demonstrators outside the convention center during his invocation before the dinner.
“It breaks my heart what is taking place today,” said Bailey. “I don’t know what’s going to become of Illinois. I don’t know what’s going to become of this nation. I know it feels different now. But there is one thing that I do know and that is Jesus Christ is Lord. … Everything that we talk about, everything that we do tonight, all the frustration we have with people standing outside, let’s just set that aside for a little bit.”
About 20 demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk along N. Keller Drive, holding signs critical of the second Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress.
“I’m concerned about what’s going to happen with education with the cuts to the Department of Education,” said Cheryl Walker, of Effingham, a Democrat. “I’m concerned and it doesn’t seem like Mary Miller and Mike Bost care. They just do whatever Donald Trump says.”
Inside, Miller acknowledged the signs and demonstrators.
“I saw the protesters out there and I gave them my biggest smile and wave,” Miller said. “In fact, it’s hard to wipe the smile off my face with so many great things happening.
“Last fall our country found itself at a crossroads. Were we going to complete President Obama’s dream to fundamentally transform our country? Or were we going to remain a free country and a land of opportunity? I am truly thankful to God that mercy triumphed over judgment and President Trump won. His overwhelming victory, in my opinion, is America’s last chance.
“President Trump 2.0 has been amazing. He’s a promise keeper and he’s getting things done. He’s very aggressive – more than the first time.
“He has put together a great cabinet to execute his agenda, which I am fully behind. The border. Energy. Protecting our girls and women. Shrinking the government and bringing transparency. And bringing Elon Musk and his great team to peel back government.
“Our brave president is taking steps to shut down the Department of Education … our children are floundering in so many ways and we need to return control of education to the local schools and to parents. That’s what President Trump wants to do.”
Outside, Carol Stumborg of Effingham held a sign critical of Bost and Miller.
“I’m worried about all the cuts to all the programs,” she said. “I’m worried about my Social Security. I’m worried about Medicare. My husband is a disabled veteran. I’m worried about his pension, and his medical services.”
Inside, Bost in his video said change is coming.
“The American people sent a clear mandate for change,” he said. “And now the liberals are getting more change than they could ever imagine.
“With joint control of the White House and Congress we have been moving quickly to do so many things – seal the border, stop the migrant invasion, address inflation. Extend tax relief. Shrink the size of government. And ban biological males from participating in women’s sports.
“Together, we unite our country by bringing it to new levels of success. As President Trump said, the forgotten men and women in this country will be forgotten no longer. It will be truly a historic four years.
“None of this would have been possible without all of you,” he told those gathered for the dinner. “I can’t say thank you enough for supporting my work in Congress and for all of the long hours of door-knocking and phone-calling for the Republicans across Illinois. It paid off. It is the honor of a lifetime to serve you in Congress. You have my word that I will work as hard as a I can to save this nation and leave it better off for our children and grandchildren.”