Illinois Republicans pick delegates at state convention

PEORIA, Ill. – Illinois Republicans are gathering to choose additional delegates to this summer's National Republican Convention and to rally party faithful ahead of November's election.

The Illinois Republican Party holds the second day of its state convention Saturday in Peoria.

The overwhelming majority of Illinois' 69 delegates to the July convention in Cleveland were elected during the March primary. Most are supporters of presumptive presidential nominee and billionaire Donald Trump.

The roughly 1,800 attendees at Saturday's meeting will choose 12 at-large delegates, 12 alternates and three Republican National Committee members. Those delegates also will be bound to support Trump because he won Illinois' GOP presidential preference vote.

Gov. Bruce Rauner, Comptroller Leslie Munger and several congressmen also are scheduled to speak and urge supporters to help elect more Republicans this fall.