Monday is the last day to file as a candidate for the Illinois March primary and it’s now clear Gov. Bruce Rauner will face a challenge in the Republican primary. State Rep. Jeanne Ives will run – and there may even be an independent candidate who surfaces. Political reporter Mary Ann Ahern has the latest.
Gov. Bruce Rauner officially has a primary challenger with Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives filing candidate petitions on deadline day.
Ives says Illinois needs a new path after Rauner signed measures including providing state health insurance and Medicaid coverage for abortions.
Rauner said Monday that he's in the best position to win the general election and dismissed Ives as a "fringe" candidate. He refused to say whether he'd debate her.
During an event Monday, Rauner said "I am not in charge," attacking Democrat Speaker of the House Mike Madigan for much of Illinois' political state.
"He's been in charge for 35 years," Rauner said.
"We would have lower property taxes in this state, we would have term limits in this state if I was in charge, he added. "I am not in charge. I'm trying to get to be in charge."
Ives, who has so far received conservative support after Rauner's flip flop on the abortion bill, claims Rauner didn't fight Madigan and instead "put in Mike Madigan's economic and social agenda."
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Among those endorsing Ives Tuesday was State Sen. Dave McSweeney, who called Rauner a "failed governor."
"[He] is not in charge," McSweeney told NBC 5. "You saw him admit it yesterday."
Also, Democratic Sen. Michael Hastings of Tinley Park filed petitions Monday to challenge longtime Secretary of State Jesse White in the primary.
Hastings says he has respect for White but was unsure if he was going to seek a sixth term. He'll "wait and see" before making a final decision.
White's campaign director Rocco Claps says there's no doubt White is running.
