When Gary Rabine made Aaron Del Mar his running mate in January 2022, it immediately changed the political trajectory for the Palatine Township Republican Committeeman. Where Del Mar had been a major figure inside Cook County politics and likely a shoo-in to be the party’s candidate for County Commissioner in the 14th District, he was suddenly a name known statewide — a speaker who could captivate a crowd in Peoria as easily as in Palatine.

Four years later, Del Mar is Darren Bailey’s choice for lieutenant governor. With that decision come unavoidable questions: can he remain Cook County GOP Chairman, a post he’s held for only six months? Should he?

For the sake of his campaign and his reputation, Del Mar would be wise to resign now — not in defeat, but in triumph. But as for what’s best for the Cook County GOP, Del Mar could take another path that answers those questions and spares the party another potentially divisive fight over who will be chairman for the next six months.

Since the 2022 primary, Del Mar has maintained high visibility statewide. He has spoken at county fundraisers, township meetings — including in Northfield, where he was our guest — and other political events supporting Republican causes and keeping himself top of mind.

Del Mar’s speeches are high-energy and uplifting. His life story isn’t one of a cherub rising above politics; it’s a story of a man who has stumbled, owned his missteps, and continued to show up to take the slings and arrows. He is charismatic, but his critics see his aggressiveness as abrasive.

Del Mar is competitive and openly transactional. He’ll tell you what he plans to do and how he intends to do it. You can get on board or not. If not, he’ll go to the mat with you — but when the battle’s over, he’s just as likely to fight on your side in the next one. (His decision to run with Darren Bailey, a primary rival in 2022, is a perfect example.)

For the past couple of years, Del Mar has told people he planned to run statewide. He really wanted to run for governor. Many, myself included, thought he should aim for secretary of state. A month ago, he and 2022 nominee Bailey joined forces — Bailey for governor, Del Mar for lieutenant governor. 

That raises the question: what does this mean for his role as Cook County Chairman?

Aaron was elected in April to finish the unexpired two-year term of Sean Morrison, the lone Republican on the Cook County Board. Morrison served for nine years, succeeding Del Mar’s first four-year tenure. In April, Del Mar faced Norwood Park Township Committeeman George Ballis. I voted for Aaron based on his experience as county chair and his record of maintaining organization. (It’s worth noting that Darren Bailey endorsed Ballis from his home in Xenia, some 225 miles from the southern tip of Cook County.)

I voted by proxy, unable to attend in person. Not having been at the closed-door meeting, I can’t speak to what was said. Some who were there claim Aaron pledged to quit if he ran statewide. Aaron later clarified that he had only promised to “revisit” his role if he sought the governorship. Running for lieutenant governor is, for all practical purposes, running for governor — just without the title. So let’s revisit this.

Aaron’s best move for himself is to resign. He would not be leaving under a cloud but rather in triumph as he embarks on this statewide run.

As a statewide candidate, he’ll need to spend every moment helping his ticket earn votes. As county chairman, he must recruit candidates for countywide offices, assist in local recruitment, raise money, and potentially oversee a party endorsement process in which he cannot possibly appear impartial. The job of county chairman — thankless even in normal times — would only distract him and could harm Bailey’s campaign as well.

Would Del Mar’s resignation help the Cook County party? Possibly, by removing questions about his impartiality and whether he honored his April pledges. But Aaron is already a lame duck; he’s not running for Palatine Committeeman when his term ends in March. Another chairman’s election is set for April 16 at the county convention, where only elected township and ward committeemen are eligible to run for chairman.

A chairman’s race could easily become divisive. Worse, few people want the job. Whoever takes it now may simply keep the seat warm until April. Does that serve anyone’s interest?

Aaron has been Palatine Committeeman since 2010, when he defeated a politically wounded Gary Skoien, whose tenure ended after a well-publicized domestic incident (2). Timing was everything. Aaron was barely 30, and he represented a bright future for Illinois Republicans: a young, driven entrepreneur leading one of the largest GOP townships in America’s second-largest county.

Within two years, he was elected Cook County Republican Chairman, succeeding Sig Vaznelis, who decided not to run for re-election after controversy over his dismissal of New Trier Committeeman Bill Cadigan the day before the 2012 primary (3).

In addition to serving as committeeman (an unpaid position) Aaron is Palatine Township Highway Commissioner (for which he is paid $20,000 per year), winning his fourth term last April unopposed on a hybrid ticket under a different banner. He struck a deal with Palatine Democrats, offering to slate two Democrats as trustees while Republicans kept control of the board with two trustees and the supervisor, clerk, assessor, and Highway Commissioner Del Mar.

That’s a deal I would have made to maintain control without spending heavily on campaigns. The downside is that the board used to be entirely Republican. Now, its members have no formal party affiliation, which creates complications: if Del Mar resigns as Highway Commissioner, his replacement wouldn’t necessarily be a Republican.

Finally, there’s Aaron’s opposition file. Assuming political operatives know how to use Google, we’ll likely see old material resurface: the photo with Hillary Clinton from the Bush years, “avant-garde” photos from earlier event work, and — most seriously — text messages to his ex-wife threatening her new partner, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times in 2014.

The latter reflected the actions of a man aggrieved over losing his family. It’s not flattering, but it’s in the past and it’s already out there.. If there’s more, we’ll know soon enough. For now, the Bailey-Del Mar ticket must show it’s a threat to win before the oppo files come out.

Aaron has stepped into a stew of his own making. He’s unlikely to step down, even though it’s clearly the best move for him. He will almost certainly resist removal — and since two-thirds of the weighted vote would be required, that’s a mountain too steep to climb.

What’s best for the Cook County Republican Party is for Aaron to address the elephant in the room: appoint a deputy chairman and have that deputy act as county chair in all matters where there’s a potential conflict of interest.

The last gubernatorial primary was vicious and created deep wounds that still haven’t fully healed. Aaron Del Mar has an opportunity to make a move that prevents new wounds from opening.

That would be the sign of a leader.