Jennifer Neubauer and Peggy Siebert, both of Lake Forest, were deprived of the opportunity to attend the 2020 Republican National Convention in Miami since it was not held in person due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Elected delegates to the 2024 convention along with Mark Shaw, also of Lake Forest, Siebert and Neubauer will have their opportunity to attend this year’s event, where the GOP will select its nominee for president and vice president of the United States.
“I’ve always wanted to be one of those crazy people on the floor, and now I will get my chance,” Siebert said.
Shaw, Siebert and Neubauer will be among the 2,429 delegates at the 2024 Republican National Convention when it opens in Milwaukee Monday, where they are expected to nominate former President Donald Trump for president along with his choice for vice president.
“This is a historic occasion for the country,” Neubauer said. “We have great enthusiasm in the Republican Party. Our platform is reasonable, and in compliance with the values of most Americans.”
It was unclear Sunday what, if any, impact Saturday’s assassination attempt on the former president in Pennsylvania will have on the convention.
Last week, Shaw, who has attended a number of Republican conventions in the past, said he looked forward to this year’s gathering in Milwaukee. He has been actively involved in the Trump campaign for the past two years.
“I look forward to seeing Donald Trump nominated,” Shaw said. “This will be a special week seeing old friends, and hopefully making new friends. Republicans are very unified in our purpose and will elect a president this time.”
Less than a month ago, Republicans anticipated a rematch of the 2020 election between Trump and President Joe Biden. Since the debate between presumptive candidates on June 27, Biden’s candidacy is less certain. Influential Democrats are asking him to withdraw.
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Shaw said a change in Democratic standard-bearers will not make a difference. Should Biden release his delegates at next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the candidate will be either Vice President Kamala Harris or another Democrat who supports the past four years of policy, he said.
“Whoever it is will be tied to the Biden-Harris record,” Shaw said. “They’ll be running on that record and as (former President) Ronald Reagan asked, we’ll say, ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ It is the same record.”
“It is the policies and vision of Trump people support,” Neubauer added.
Keith Brin, the chair of the Lake County Republicans, is not attending the convention. Last week he said, like Shaw, that the Democratic candidate will be running on the record established over the past four years
“The strength of Republican ideals and values will prevail over any candidate the Democrats put up for president,” Brin said.
State Sen. Craig Wilcox, R-McHenry, who represents the northwest part of Lake County, is not a delegate but said he may be able to attend a night of the convention and mix with people there. He, too, said a switch in opposing candidates will not matter.
“We know who our candidate is, and he is focused on the vision of the future for our Republican policies,” Wilcox said. “Most people know they were in a much better place 3½ years ago than they are today.”
Along with nominating Trump and his vice presidential pick, the delegates will approve the party’s platform. Shaw said the purpose of the platform is the creation of unity. Neubauer said it resounds with American values.
“The platform is resilient, and comports with the values of most Americans,” Neubauer said. “While they may not know it, most Americans lean Republican.”