GALENA, Ill. — Oct. 20, 2026 — Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie has filed legislation that would designate April 27 of each year as Ulysses S. Grant Day, a new state commemorative day recognizing the former president’s ties to Illinois and his place in American history.

McCombie filed the proposal as House Bill 5820. With the current legislative year coming to a close, she said the measure will be refiled in the upcoming 105th General Assembly, according to a community announcement reported by the Journal Standard on Oct. 20, 2026.

Grant was the nation’s 18th president. He settled in Galena, Illinois, before the Civil War and later led Union forces to victory in the conflict, giving the Jo Daviess County city one of the strongest claims to presidential history of any town its size in the Midwest.

McCombie said Illinois has great history that should be commemorated, and that the bill would make sure the contributions President Ulysses S. Grant made are known throughout the state. She said the proposed day would highlight Grant’s connection to Illinois and help educate residents about his contributions to the state and the country.

The measure as described would create an annual commemorative day. As of Oct. 20, 2026, the bill’s co-sponsors, committee assignments, and timeline for consideration in the new General Assembly were pending.

For Galena, where Grant’s legacy is a centerpiece of the community’s historical identity and a draw for visitors, a state-level day of recognition would add official weight to a connection the city has long promoted. The town’s Grant ties are among the best-known presidential links in northwest Illinois.

McCombie’s proposal arrives as the current legislative session winds down, with the next General Assembly set to take up the bill after it is refiled.

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