Fact Check: Dold funded Trump turnout operation, despite rhetoric

Deerfield, IL — With less than two weeks before Election Day, Republican Rep. Bob Dold continues to say one thing while doing another. Dold is hoping splashy TV ads distort reality: Bob Dold wants 10th District voters to think he doesn’t support Donald Trump, but behind the scenes Dold supports the groups turning out the vote for Trump in Lake County.

Here is reality: “The Lake County Republicans are working to turn Illinois into a red state. From now until the election, calls on behalf of Donald Trump, as well as other local GOP candidates will be made from Lake County Republican Headquarters, 320 Peterson Road, Libertyville” (Lake County Republican Federation e-newsletter, 10/25/16). The Lake County Republican Central Committee and the Lake County Republican Federation are located at that address.

After publicly claiming he wouldn’t support Donald Trump, Bob Dold headlined a closed-door “Beat Hillary at the Distillery” fundraiser for the Lake County Republican Central Committee and the Lake County Republican Federation.

Bob Dold’s campaign has given the local Republican groups money over the years, including $2,250 to the Lake County Republican Central Committee and $1,850 to the Lake County Republican Federation during the 2016 cycle (Illinois State Board of Elections).

In addition to phone calls getting out the vote, a voter guide from Lake County Republicans encourages the election of Donald Trump. An anti-Hillary, “Let’s Make America Great Again!” message is included in the Lake County Republicans’ voter guide with a disclaimer at the bottom that reads, “Paid for by the Lake County Republican Central Committee.”