CHICAGO (AP) – Republicans in Illinois on Tuesday will choose a candidate to take over Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, a billionaire who has spent millions trying to get the opponent he wants and increase his already significant advantage in state this fall.
Among Republican leaders is Conservative Sen. Darren Bailey, a farmer who received approval from former President Donald Trump on Saturday. Bailey raised his state profile during the pandemic, opposing Pritzker’s measures against COVID-19. He is suing Pritzker over an order to stay home issued by the governor and was escorted off the floor by the legislature for refusing to wear a mask.
Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotel, and the Association of Democratic Governors have spent heavily on advertising to help Bailey win the Republican primary, including ads that say he is “100% for life.” Although these reports boosted Bailey’s position among Republican voters, they are likely to hurt him in a general election where Democrats control all offices across the state and voters twice rejected Trump with double-digit numbers.
Bailey rejected the idea that he could not win and criticized “established Republicans” for contributing to decades of mismanagement in the country.
“We will send a message to the Republican establishment that we will not be harassed to sacrifice our principles to select our candidates,” he told an audience at a campaign stop in rural Illinois this month.
Republican Richard Irwin, a former prosecutor who was the first black mayor of Illinois’ second-largest city, was seen as the leading candidate when he joined the race, with financial support from billionaire Ken Griffin. But despite Griffin dropping $ 50 million into Irwin’s campaign, he was harmed by repeated attacks by his rivals, including Pritzker.
Unlike Bailey and his four other rivals, Irwin avoided talking about abortion or saying he voted for Trump. Instead, the mayor of Aurora focused on issues such as crime in Chicago and legislation signed by Pritzker, which he said made police more difficult. He said he was against abortion, except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the mother’s life.
Irwin also claims that he is the only Republican candidate who can defeat Pritzker in November because he can win votes from Republicans, independents and some Democrats.
“The reality is that I am the candidate who can win this race, which is why the attacks are coming,” Irwin said as he visited a manufacturing plant.
Other Republican candidates include business owner Gary Rabin, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, former state senator Paul Schimpf and attorney Max Solomon.
Pritzker, whose only candidate in the Democratic primary is Beverly Miles, said he was not afraid of any rival heading for November.
“I will face everyone on the other side of the aisle and we will win,” Pritzker said.
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