CHICAGO — Long a conservative stronghold, DuPage County was once considered "one of the reddest counties in America." The suburban enclave west of Chicago produced a U.S.
House speaker and longtime state Senate president, both Republicans. It also served as the political home of the author of the Hyde Amendment, which banned the use of federal funds for abortion. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the party's presidential candidates routinely tapped residents of the county to raise big bucks for their campaigns.
But, "the tide began to turn" about a decade ago, said DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy — the first Democrat to hold that office in at least 75 years. Like many suburban areas across the country, one top issue continues to drive the change from politically red to blue: access to abortion. "We did it with hardworking candidates, volunteers and staff who made the case that Republicans were out of touch with the people, especially on issues like reproductive health," Conroy said.
Abortion rights were the major topic of Illinois delegates' breakfast program on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Gov. JB Pritzker was expected to speak Tuesday night. The event runs through Thursday, when Vice President Kamala Harris is slated to make her case to voters in the Nov.
5 election. Speakers at the Illinois breakfast highlighted the state's unique position as an "island" for reproductive health care since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The spl.