CHICAGO – Stinging from a walloping at the polls, Illinois Republicans are focusing on the 2014 governor’s race as their best chance to emerge from the political cellar, while acknowledging that a recovery means doing things much differently.

The governor’s race is shaping up as a must-win for the GOP, after Democrats on Tuesday won veto-proof super majorities in the state House and Senate and a majority of the state’s congressional delegation, in addition to controlling all but two statewide offices.

That reality has Republicans re-evaluating everything from their image and campaign strategies to the diversity of their candidates and their policy priorities, such as their line against immigration reforms.