Patrick Cortesi, chair of the McLean County Democratic Party, has announced his candidacy for Democratic state central committeeman in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District.
Each congressional district in the state has two central committeemen, who work as the governing body of the state party. The 34 members elect the executive director and chair of the state party.
Cortesi said the position would be in addition to his role in the county’s Democratic Party and it would not impede on his other duties.
“This is a way I can expand my influence with the state party in our region, while still being able to be a chair,” he said. “Any other options that I might have considered would have probably meant me not being chair, and I did not want to give that up.”
Cortesi, who was first elected county chair in a special election in 2021, said he’s tired of his party playing defense and wants his campaign to turn to the future instead.
“I think it’s time for us as a local county party, and as an area, a region of the state, to start fighting forward and really be insistent and go after what we want,” Cortesi said. “To create the kind of community, to create the kind of politics, to create the kind of government that we really want to see to help the most people that we can.”
Cortesi thinks the state party may not be focusing enough attention on downstate voters. As the 16th Congressional District is more rural and reliably red, Cortesi said he has a few ideas on how to appeal to voters there.
“I think we need to reclaim rural Illinois,” he said. “I think we need to reclaim our position with the labor unions, with the working men and women of this state, and I think we can provide a good example of how to do that.”
Cortesi said the best message for those otherwise unlikely Democratic voters is to show them what Democrats have done to better their lives.
“Whether it’s what happened with the infrastructure bill out of Washington, D.C., whether it’s the Rebuild Illinois bill that Gov. JB Pritzker put in,” he said. “I think we need to brag more about our successes and not worry so much about all the chaos and drama that’s coming out of D.C.”
Cortesi and the McLean County Democrats have successes of their own which he said is evidence of proven strategies. In 2024, the county board flipped to a Democratic majority and McLean County increased Democratic turnout from 2022. The county also has trended toward Democrats in each of the last three general elections.
Cortesi said he would bring the same strategies and plans to other places in Central Illinois.
“Our number one and most effective way of voter contact is to go knock on their door and have conversations, to listen to them and do that year-round. We don’t just do that at election time,” he said. “You will see us out and about in the community all over the place. People know who we are and what we stand for.”
Cortesi said they focus on issues that matter to residents and avoid party recognition.
While state politics may shift because of changing demographics and new people living in McLean County, Cortesi said his playbook still applies.
“They’re not necessarily Democratic or Republican. They don’t abide by pure party politics,” Cortesi said. “They will vote according to issues and what candidates or elected officials are dealing with those issues.”
Cortesi said as Democrats have seemed to lose the support of some demographics in the 2024 election, he said it’s exactly why he wants to advocate for more resources and time to be spent in downstate Illinois.
“I think it’s something systemic,” he said. “I think we are losing those folks because we don’t have a message that relates to the working families, especially in rural areas, anymore.”
The success of Democrats in McLean County was not shared nationally, however, as President Donald Trump won a second non-consecutive term with support from swing states and blocks of voters who historically vote for Democrats.
Cortesi said election night led to mixed feelings.
“It was very difficult. I was sitting there on stage at the Castle Theater for our watch party celebrating all the wins we had had, while on the big screen behind me state after state was falling for Donald Trump,” he said. “I have to resign myself to be able to control what I can control and just focus on that.”
Cortesi said he will start gathering signatures during petition season starting Aug. 5. The primary election will take place March 17, 2026, ahead of the midterms.
Paul Lamm of Freeport also has announced his candidacy for the 16th district committee seat currently held by John Daniel, who is not seeking reelection. Daniel has endorsed Cortesi.
