Republicans are in full celebration mode as wealthy businessman Bruce Rauner takes the oath of office Monday to become the 42nd governor of Illinois, marking the end of 12 years of total Democratic control of state government with events ranging from private dinners for big donors to a raucous concert where the drinks will flow.
Out is the traditional inaugural ball where members of the state's political class don formal wear and sip wine, replaced by a show headlined by country star Toby Keith and featuring Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy. The $125 ticket price - $75 for students and military personnel - includes food and beverages. Dress code is casual.
"Rather than a formal, stuffy black-tie thing, which I don't like, we're going to have some good country music," Rauner said during a weekend stop in central Illinois leading up to the inauguration. "We want everybody in the state to come. Big party."
The concert reflects the working-class image the millionaire equity investor sought to portray on the campaign trail, where he donned a Carhartt coat and promised to fight the insiders he blamed for creating the state's troubles.
But there are plenty of opportunities for those willing to pony up to get an audience with the state's new chief executive. A $1,000-a-ticket cocktail reception Sunday night saw an estimated 800 partygoers bused from a hotel to a private dinner with Rauner under the ornate Capitol dome.
A makeshift kitchen was set up in the building's basement for the menu of a "deconstructed Caesar salad," marinated beef tenderloin and apple tarte tatin. Special lights lined the front steps where guests entered as a four-piece band entertained.
A list of donors the Rauner transition team released showed that business groups paid for the bulk of the inaugural festivities, which also included a veterans job fair and two hours of free admission to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where Rauner looked on as wife Diana read a book to children.
Major donors who gave up to $100,000 were the Illinois Hospital Association, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association, downstate coal mining company Foresight Energy and David MacNeil, founder of a Bolingbrook automotive products company that makes WeatherTech car mats.
Altria, the tobacco firm, and Richard Duchossois, the northwest suburban businessman, were among those listed as giving up to $50,000. Giving up to $25,000 were Ameren, the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois political fund, the Illinois Association of Realtors, the Illinois State Medical Society, Peoples Gas, State Farm and Wirtz Corp.
Despite his repeated pledges to clip the power of special interest groups, Rauner said he's "comfortable" with the donations, saying the money comes from organizations that don't do direct business with the state. Many of the donors' industries are regulated by state government, however.
"The issue is we have many organizations that contract with the state directly. That's where we don't want to have financial dealings," Rauner said Sunday. "We don't want political contributions coming from those types of groups."
The Rauners began the day in Chicago, where they served plates of chicken, carrots and applesauce to homeless people in Uptown. They then traveled to Springfield, arriving at the Lincoln museum flanked by five of their six children. The incoming governor shook hands and posed for photos, including a selfie he shot of his family while crouched in front of lifelike statuettes of Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln and their sons.
The Rauners also met a contingent from a powerful Illinois political dynasty, as Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan introduced husband Pat Byrnes and their two daughters as TV cameras rolled. Madigan's father is House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state Democratic Party chairman who was a major target of Rauner's campaign barbs.
Whether Rauner will be able to enact much of his yet-to-be-detailed agenda will depend on what help he gets from Speaker Madigan and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly that gets sworn in Wednesday. If last week is any indication, it could be a contentious relationship after Democrats quickly pushed through a law to hold a 2016 special election and cut in half the term of Rauner's pick for comptroller, an office that became vacant after the December death of Judy Baar Topinka.
Later, Rauner attended a job fair at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. He passed up chances to sample local beers but was easily talked into climbing atop a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was on display to promote the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway.
Springfield's Fritz Klein, who dressed as President Lincoln for the occasion, posed for photos next to Rauner and the Harley. "I like what he stands for," Klein said. "Hopefully we'll see some good changes."
Rauner will be sworn in at an 11 a.m. Monday ceremony, along with incoming Republican Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti of Wheaton, Attorney General Madigan of Chicago, Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White of Chicago, incoming Democratic Treasurer Mike Frerichs of Champaign and Rauner comptroller appointee Leslie Munger of Lincolnshire.
Archbishop Blase Cupich will deliver the invocation, and the Rev. James Meeks will give a prayer. Rauner will appoint Meeks, a former state senator, as State Board of Education chairman. Blackhawks anthem singer Jim Cornelison will deliver his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Asked for a hint about what will be in his inaugural address, Rauner said he'll "talk about our vision for the state and our priorities and talk about how we're going to get our state turned around."
Rauner also noted that Monday marks the first of three major speeches in the coming weeks. He called the Feb. 18 budget speech "a big deal." He's got a State of the State speech two weeks prior.
The realities of achieving his goals mean the revelry will be short-lived, as Rauner takes the helm of a state in financial disarray.
So far, Rauner has declined to offer specifics on how he'll tackle the state's problems. He has said he will issue a number of executive orders regarding ethics and government efficiency shortly after taking office. But his ideas on the budget likely won't come until next month's speech. A report issued by his transition team has called for unspecific structural reforms to cut costs, while acknowledging that "a revenue problem" exists.
But finding more money to pay for state government will be a major test of Rauner's anti-tax campaign theme, while questions remain about what support he would get for new taxes or fees, particularly from fellow Republicans who have long been out of power in the legislature.
So while Monday will be a party for Republicans, the GOP faces pain that could rival any hangover that may result.
"It's a celebration of an effort that the governor undertook for a while. Winning a primary, winning a general election, especially when you have one-party rule for 12 years, it's a big deal," said Rep. Ron Sandack, R-Downers Grove. "It's a good celebration, but we've got work to do."
Tribune reporter Ray Long and The Associated Press contributed. Trotter reported from Chicago.