Redistricting was a large focus at an annual gathering of the state party’s central committee and the Republican County Chair’s Association in Springfield, with a pre-taped message from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that dubbed his push “fair” and “necessary” setting the tone for the day.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republicans used their day at the State Fair on Thursday to pledge their allegiance to President Donald Trump and the Trump-backed plan to redistrict Texas’ congressional boundaries to gain GOP seats that led to that state’s House Democrats fleeing to Illinois to try to block it.