Metro East Sun

Federation of Illinois Young Republicans Chairman Evan Kasal views the Metro East region as politically significant and strategically vital for the organization's growth.

The recently launched Metro East Young Republicans chapter is part of the Federation's statewide expansion strategy, with Kasal noting the its significance in a Congressional District currently represented by Democrat Nikki Budzinsk. 

“There'll be a lot down there,” Kasal told the Metro East Sun. “The 13th [Congressional District] is a potential swing district in that congressional area. I'm very optimistic about that chapter too. It puts us in the game.”

He also sees opportunity for cross-border Republican cooperation, noting the unique position of the Metro East area adjacent to Missouri. 

“I'm hoping in the future to collaborate with the Missouri Republican chair and do a joint event with the Saint Louis Young Republicans,” Kasal said.

The launch of the Metro East chapter was made possible through local partnerships, including support from key county leaders.

“Michael Butler, who's the Republican chair of Saint Clair County at the southern part of the state — he helped me start a chapter,” Kasal said. 

The new chapter is based primarily in St. Clair County but reaches into three neighboring counties — Madison, Bond and Clinton. 

“It’s four counties in that area,” Kasal said.

The Metro East Young Republicans are engaged in political advocacy at both local and state levels, recently urging residents to reject the Illinois House’s assisted suicide legalization. They are also backing Republican candidates such as Paul Nicolussi, who is campaigning for Madison County Board District 23.

The Metro East Young Republicans will hold their June meeting on Thursday, June 19 from 6-7:30 PM at 4510 N Illinois Street in Swansea. The event is open to the public and will include pizza and drinks.

The Metro East expansion is part of a larger strategic push Kasal has undertaken since assuming the Federation’s chairmanship in March. Since taking office in March, Kasal has focused on growing the organization’s presence in southern Illinois and other underserved areas.

Kasal described 2025 as a “rebuild year,” emphasizing his vision of strengthening the party ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections to be on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Federation sees new chapters as critical hubs for training and mobilizing the next generation of Republican talent.

At just 32 years old, Kasal, a Chicago-based technology professional, has grown the number of active Young Republican chapters from seven to 11, with additional chapters set to launch soon. 

With the Federation’s expanding reach, particularly into underrepresented and competitive regions like Metro East, Kasal and his team are laying the groundwork for what they see as a broader political shift in Illinois.

“Democrats are losing power because Trump is undercutting them,” Kasal previously told Chicago City Wire. “There's a lot of different groups that are trying to be the next leaders of the Democrat Party in Illinois and then of course you have these demographics that voted Democrat for decades, like the Black vote, the Hispanic vote, working class vote, they're all bleeding to Republicans.”

Working alongside Kasal is Emily Cahill, treasurer of the Will County Young Republicans and the Federation’s statewide membership coordinator. She has been instrumental in launching the new chapters, including Metro East, and is helping lead the organization’s expansion across Illinois.

“Young Republicans are very tenacious,” Cahill previously told Prairie State Wire. “We have a lot of energy, and sometimes we have a lotta time on our hands. So if we can find people like that and utilize them to do door knockings and praise—doing calling, to, you know, just talking to the neighbors—that will grow exponentially and show that we can get people elected. No, and who knows? A couple of them might want to run themselves. You never know.”