The Kane County Trump rally caravan started just before 9 a.m. Sunday morning in the parking lot of Lily Lake Grade School. By 10 a.m., over 60 vehicles were at the event and ready to head to the McHenry County Fairgrounds.

Kane County Republican Party Chairman Andro Lerario led the group.

Lerario said that it is important now to talk to the people. He said that conversations between people from opposing parties have become negative over the last four years and that he believes this country needs a change of attitude.

Lerario said when he speaks to voters, the most common question he hears is, “What is Kamala even saying?”

Lerario said the main policy changes he hopes to see if Trump is elected are an expansion of oil drilling in the U.S., a reduction in money printing, the elimination of a tipping tax and prison reform.

“The policy will work itself out,” Lerario said. “(Trump) will work with manufacturing as he has done before, he will bring money back from abroad as he has done before. He will work on some of his policy goals, like clean air and clean oceans.”

Lerario also praised Trump’s efforts to help the United Negro College Fund, which he said was an embarrassment for years until Trump got the funding in place.

“We spend millions and millions of dollars abroad, but we can’t help our people here? That’s a joke,” Lerario said.

Penny Plum, chairwoman of the Campton Township Republican Party, attended the event. She said that since the Republican convention, she believes the race has clearly been in Trump’s favor.

“(The RNC) was victorious and in some ways somber because it recognized how fragile our freedom really is,” Plum said.

Plum said this election is important, not only at the presidential level, but also in local elections. She said when canvassing for votes, she encourages voters to pay attention to the issues and vote for their county officials on the lower ballots.

“I think closing the border has to be a top priority,” Plum said. “I think that’s the biggest attempt to threaten our democracy — importing illegal voters — and we’re seeing a major loosening of laws to make it much easier for illegal voters to vote. That’s a big concern for me, especially in Illinois with its sanctuary state status and the recently introduced laws that make it almost impossible for county officials to control who can and can’t vote. The line is really blurred.”

Plum said there were several concerns about election integrity in the last election, and concerns about illegal voters are just the latest.

“The Democrats stole the (2020) election, in my opinion, by making 1,000 cuts. That’s more of a gaping cut, and it’s so obvious,” Plum said.

Rowena Zimmers, a St. Charles resident, attended the rally wearing T-shirts and hats she made for the event that read “I’m weird” with “Trump” and “Vance” underneath. She said she was inspired to make the merchandise in response to comments made by Democrats calling the Republican Party weird.

“What’s so weird about being pro-family and pro-faith?” Zimmers asked. “What’s so weird about being against men competing in women’s sports? Let’s embrace the weirdness.”

Zimmer sold the hats for $20 each.

Zimmer is Filipina and said that because of her background, people often assume she must be a Democrat. She said her mother was born in the Philippines with the right roots and taught her the importance of working hard and pursuing any dream you desire.

“There’s nothing better than coming here legally, becoming a citizen and taking that oath. It makes you very patriotic because you feel like you’ve been welcomed into this country,” Zimmers said. “It’s just special when you’ve earned it and it’s not just given to you when you came here illegally, because then you take away the patriotism.”

Zimmer said banning abortion and restricting illegal immigration were important to her.

Shortly before 10 a.m., participants gathered at the front of the trailer to hear Lerario speak. He thanked everyone for coming, despite the backlash from the media who tried to prevent the event.

“We are fighting against evil,” Lerario said. “There are people who really hate you, so understand that.”

The group joined together for a short prayer, praying for leadership that would fight for justice and truth.