Connie Unger, of Springfield, prays after listening to former U.S. Attorney General Matt Whitaker’s speech at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Dogs Gabby, left, and Palin, named after former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, sit in a stroller at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Lee Hackett, of Bryant, center, enjoys food during rain at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Former delegate from the 5th District Alan Spitz talks to Chabad Springfield Rabbi Mendel Spielman, left, and Rabbi Mendel Labkoswki, of New York City, at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Jody Baker, of Pekin, listens to speakers at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Debby Esarey, of Charleston, Illinois, center waits in line at the Director’s Lawn during Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 15, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)The Butter Cow sculpture is displayed in the Dairy Building at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Beckham Donelson, 4, of Edwardsville, examines the Illinois State Fair Butter Cow in the Dairy Building on Aug. 14, 2024. The Butter Cow has been an unofficial icon of the fair since the 1920s. 500 pounds of unsalted butter are used to sculpt the life-size figure by hand. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Jenae Balfour, 5, spins sister Jenelle, 8, play during Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. The pair took a bus from South Chicago Heights with their mother to attend. Attorney General Kwame Raoul is at left. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Jo Webster, of West Point, Illinois, shows her Dolly Parton pin at Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. Webster came with the Hancock County Democrats. "I just got back from Dollywood. Hancock County is red so I feel safe wearing a Dolly pin. We have to defeat Trump with a woman candidate. I sat in front of the TV and sobbed the first time he won. I have been upset about it ever since," she said. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)A fairgoer holds on tight while riding the Sizzler at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Brik Yantis, 2, of Piper City waits for the auction of Olivia Shike’s, 18, of Sedorus, Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow and Grand Champion Barrow, Billy, left, in the Governor’s Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. Yantis is a part of the family that raised Billy. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Parker Jones, 11, of Chicago, from left, Malakai Wade, 11, of Chicago, Charli Barberry, 7, of Springfield, and Barberry’s cousin Kamden Griffith, 11, of Chicago, enjoy food near the midway at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Gov. JB Pritzker talks to attendees during Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
People participate in the Governor’s Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. The sale auctions off the best livestock as judged by competitions throughout the fair. Grand Champion is the highest distinction youth exhibiting livestock in Illinois can earn. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)A jockey smiles after finishing a one-mile harness race at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)George Kimbrough and wife Bonita Kimbrough, of Plainfield, react while State Comptroller Susana Mendoza speaks during Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Katie Gregory, of Meredosia, enjoys a corn dog at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Olivia Shike’s, 18, of Sedorus, Land of Lincoln Grand Champion Barrow and Grand Champion Barrow, Billy, waits to be auctioned in the Governor’s Sale of Champions at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)A performer balances during a circus performance at Happy Hollow at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Riders race in the fourth of 18 harness races of the day on the one-mile racetrack at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)State Attorney General Kwame Raoul and State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, left, sign baseballs for Democratic County Chair of Henderson County Dick Bigger Jr. during Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. Bigger has asked state officials and politicians from the 17th district to sign baseballs for years. State Attorney General Kwame Raoul is the last signature he needs for his collection and then he will return the baseballs to each politician. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)Levi White, 1, slides while sister Clara White, 3, plays underneath at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
Fairgoers ride the Yo-Yo swing ride at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)A member of the Watershow Productions High Dive Show performs at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield on Aug. 14, 2024. (Tess Crowley/baiduhai)
