Northside Chicago Republicans president: ‘Many working families feel they have no choice’ but to leave

Brian Kasal, president of the Northside Chicago Republicans, said to Chicago City Wire that Illinois ranks low in social mobility because high taxes, heavy regulation, and weak economic performance make it harder for workers to advance.

Kasal said these factors contribute to a challenging environment for residents seeking upward mobility. 

“Bad government policies have left Illinois residents at a disadvantage, placing the state 38th in social mobility and last in the region as taxes and regulations suppress opportunity. When the business climate and institutional strength rank so poorly, it becomes harder for people to advance economically. Illinois also lags most states in job creation, has one of the highest unemployment rates, and experiences sluggish wage growth. As a result, many working families feel they have no choice but to move away to find better prospects,” Kasal said.

The Archbridge Institute reported that Illinois ranked 38th overall in its Social Mobility in the 50 States index for 2025. The state placed last in the East North Central region for social mobility and scored poorly on entrepreneurship and growth as well as institutions and rule of law. High taxes, regulatory barriers, and weak institutional quality were cited as contributing factors. The report noted that education quality is the only area where Illinois ranks above the bottom half of states.

<a href="https://www.illinoispolicy.The Illinois Policy Institute said that job creation in Illinois lags behind most other states. The state’s unemployment rate stands at 5%, which is third highest nationally. Since December 2018, wage growth has been among the slowest in the country. These economic challenges are linked with an outflow of prime working-age residents seeking better opportunities elsewhere.

Kasal was first appointed president of Chicago’s Northside Republican Club in 2021. According to the organization’s website, he is focused on boosting Republican voter turnout and communicating party positions on issues relevant to Northside voters.