The White County GOP is sponsoring a Lincoln Day dinner and Candidate Forum scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Chalk and Slate (grade school), 700 N. State Street, in Crossville, Ill. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is at 6:00 p.m. The Candidate Forum begins at 7:00 p.m. Fried chicken and fish will be served and tickets are $20 per person and available from GOP officers.
The following candidates have confirmed their attendance as of this date for the forum:
Darren Bailey, former IL State Rep and IL State Senator, running for the Republican party nomination for IL Governor; Dave Severin and Angela Evans, candidates for Representative of IL district 116; Patrick Windhorst, 117th IL Rep; Terry Bryant, current 58th IL senator (not on the ballot); Ill. 118th district Representative Paul Jacobs, and Franklin County Treasurer Steve Vercellino, Candidates for the 59th District IL Senate seat; Regional Office of Education candidates Sarah Emery and Shain Crank; Jimmy Tillman, candidate for US Senate;
Local candidates Sheriff Jordan Weiss and challenger Chris Pollard in the White County Sheriff's race will speak. Assessments Supervisor Gary Baxley, County Clerk Kayci Heil, County Treasurer Micheal Baxley, County Board member David South, and Coroner Chris Marsh have so far all confirmed.
Tickets can be obtained by calling Valinda Rowe at 618-963-2788 or send a message on Facebook.

