Illinois GOP Chair Exits After Backing Gay Marriage

The head of the Illinois Republican Party is stepping down after publicly backing gay marriage in January. Pat Brady's support for a measure currently under state consideration ran counter to the party's platform; he said his stance was personal and not made in his capacity as party chief, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Brady said he was not resigning due to political pressure but in order "to focus on my wife"—who has cancer—"and our kids," the Daily Herald reports. "I've been going hard for six years. It's time to move on." The Tribune, however, makes clear that the exit will surprise no one: At a meeting of GOP leaders last month, a succession plan was discussed. In his resignation letter, he says he'll remain politically active.