CHICAGO – Just as you thought election news would be out of the headlines for a while, tidbits about potential Democrat challengers to oust incumbent Republican Governor Bruce Rauner in 2018 are taking notice.
In one case, the challenger promises to self-fund as Rauner did in 2014 – that being 51 year old Democrat – investor J.B. Pritzker, the youngest son of the late Donald Pritzker.
And encouraging a billionaire self-funder that at one time worked for Illinois' late Senator Alan Dixon and served as Hillary Clinton's national campaign co-chair in 2008 makes a lot of sense for Democrats in Illinois. They're already back on their heels after losing four seats in the Illinois House and two in the Illinois Senate last month.
"J.B. is not intimidated by Rauner’s money," a source close to Pritzker told Politico Monday. "If he did this, he would do whatever it took to do it the right way. He would run to win and he would do what it takes to do that."
Pritzker and his wife were on the front row when Hillary Clinton made her official concession speech the next morning after the election. Pritzker, who was active in the Chicago area during this year's campaign, told a Sun-Times reporter he blamed FBI Director James Comey, male voters and misleading polls for Clinton's loss.
Rauner himself funded most of those Republican advances on the efforts of Democrat Party Chairman/House Speaker Mike Madigan. Rauner's recently revealed tax filings showed business is doing very well – despite Rauner placing his investments in a blind trust while governing Illinois. He showed making $188 million in 2015 alone.
J.B. Pritzker – whose sister Penny is serving the Obama Administration as U.S. Commerce Secretary – has expanded his part of the Hyatt Hotel inheritance to an approximate $3 billion.
Rauner's personal investment in GOP State House and Senate races this past election could exceed $20 million – reports will be filed soon. The political reporting website "Follow the Money" says the Rauner Campaign Committee has given $30,018,611 to 64 different candidates and committees over the past three years.
It also reports Pritzker has given $3,195,111 to 121 different filers over the past 17 years – the vast majority to Democrats:
We can all thank J. B. Pritzker for helping the Communist Jan Schakowsky obtain her Congressional seat by spending huge sums of money in the 1998 Democratic primary election and splitting the vote (Pritzker finished a distant third in a field of three). State Representative Schakowsky was able to secure a plurality victory (45%) over State Senator Howard Carroll (34.5%) and the political novice Pritzker (20.5%).
Jan has been embarrassing us ever since.
Why should this be anybody’s problem? Rauner refused to attend the GOP convention where soon-to-be President-elect Trump was nominated. Rauner refuses, even today, to mention President-elect Trump by name.
Illinois Republicans were afraid of dealing with the immigration invasion – way back in the 90’s when there were organized anti-immigration organizations in Illinois – unto even the present.
Now there is a huge 3rd world immigrant voter bloc in IL that overwhelms them.
Illinois Republicans won’t even stand up for white kids in Illinois high schools and universities, who have been assaulted for expressing pro-Trump sentiments.
Right of Center Illinois voters have nothing for them with the Illinois GOP.
The Illinois GOP is on its own now.
Good luck to y’all.
Another Chicago democrat, are we actually that stupid in Illinois? This state is rock bottom in every category except we are number one in property taxes in the USA.
With Matigan in charge and a democrat governor we might as well just turn out the lights.
Why do you believe we only have 20 electoral votes now, with so many people leaving IL we will drop again in 2020!
Clint, do you hope that a conservative will run for governor, in 2018? If so, who should run?
All of these Democrats are considering running for governor:
Daniel Biss (D) – State Sen.
Cheri Bustos (D) – Congresswoman
Michael Frerichs (D) – State Treasurer
Robin Kelly (D) – Congresswoman
Chris Kennedy (D) – Businessman & Son of US Sen. Robert F. Kennedy
Andy Manar (D) – State Sen.
Ameya Pawar (D) – Chicago Alderman
J.B. Pritzker (D) – Venture Capitalist, Philanthropist, Attorney & ’98 US Rep. Candidate
Kwame Raoul (D) – State Sen. & Attorney
Heather Steans (D) – State Sen.
Kurt Summers (D) – Chicago City Treasurer & Ex-Financial Executive
I’ve missed seeing your comments on here, Clint.
I hope that we can secede from Illinois but you can wish with one hand …
Check out this young man running
Alex Paterakis
alexpaterakis.com
Add in Alex Paterakis
https://www.facebook.com/paterakisalex/
alexpaterakis.com