Yvonne Bolton (front in pink scarf) with Will Co conservative activists
WILL COUNTY - The Illinois chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly resigned from her post this week after Bruce Rauner won the Illinois GOP gubernatorial primary.
"I cannot in good conscience support Bruce Rauner," Yvonne Sencial Bolton of Will County said in her resignation letter.
Bolton has been chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Illinois since 2017. Before becoming chairman, she served as the organization's Will County vice-chairman, then chairman. She also served as national committeewoman representing Illinois to the group's national convention.
Bolton says her goal was to get more Hispanics involved in Illinois Republican politics because Hispanics are "conservative in our core - that's what we are. We need candidates with conservative values and people of faith, based on those values," she said.
She says she left the Democrat Party several years ago - despite her father being active in the party - because she couldn't support the party's values.
"That's why I became a Republican," she said. Being fluent in both English and Spanish, Bolton said she can talk to the people, and share her desire and passion. Her strong motivation and energy won her a leadership role in the state's effort for Donald Trump.
"I was the evangelical coalition coordinator for Trump in Illinois," she said. "I was originally for Cruz and was almost a #Never Trumper, but my mother and other circumstances changed my mind. I am proud of helping Donald Trump be elected."
Bolton said she hopes to continue promoting conservative values she holds dear, but not in a position to promote someone that doesn't agree with her dearly-held values. Her resignation letter to the organization reads:
Dear Friends,
It is with much thought and prayer like everything I do that I officially resign my position as chairman of the RNHA of Illinois.As someone, like my son told me last night "is guided by a moral compass to be your guiding light" I cannot in good conscience support Rauner. I only support people of values, which I find him devoid of. It was those values that turned me away from the Democrat party and the very reason I became a proud REPUBLICAN! Just so everyone is clear, I stopped supporting him the day he was the second biggest donor to Planned Parenthood. Everything that happened after, like the the signing of the horrific HB40, and the rest of his betrayal of the conservative base just confirmed my decision. I do not work for "a few pieces of silver." For me it's always been for much more. It's been for a cause, a vision, and at this time it's blurry.I personally thank you All and pray nothing but the Lord's blessings for you and your family.
Yvonne Bolton
