(The Center Square) – A Chicago South Side committeeman is set to make history at the Illinois Republican State Convention this weekend.

Devin Jones says he is the first delegate to the state GOP convention to come from a majority-Black ward in Chicago.

“It’s a testament to the outreach that some of us have been doing about being intentional as far as welcoming Black citizens of Chicago into the party,” Jones said.

Jones is the Republican committeeman for the 18th Ward, encompassing parts of the city’s South and Southwest Sides. He said this is a real accomplishment for Republicans in Chicago.

“It’s a testament of the policies that the Republican Party should and does espouse,” Jones said.

The convention takes place this Friday and Saturday, May 24 and 25, at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville.

Jones is bringing a conservative agenda to the event. He said Illinois Republicans should remain firmly pro-life.

“I think we should maintain a hard line, a moral stance against abortion and against LGBTQ ideology,” Jones said.

Jones would not say the Illinois GOP has not been supportive, but he did say that they’ve been hands-off.

“They don’t know what to do with me and the South Side Republicans, because we are going to push conservative principles and policies and the original platform of the Republican Party,” Jones said.

Jones also said he would like to see a return to direct elections for state central committeemen.