SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Republican Party chairman Pat Brady has formed a panel to analyze the party's failures during last November's general election.

Lee Enterprises newspapers in Illinois reports Friday (http://bit.ly/YsI3Mi) that Brady hopes the new Growth and Opportunity Committee can plan improvements for 2014 elections. Brady said in a statement that the state Republican Party "is at a critical point in its history." He says the committee could help get a GOP governor elected in Illinois.

Stark County Republican chairman Mike Bigger in central Illinois will chair the new committee. Brady says he wants a report from the committee by mid-April.