Wheaton Republican Jeanne Ives Challenges Governor

By Greg Bishop | Illinois News Network

WHEATON, IL — A Republican state representative is taking on the party’s leader and most significant fundraiser in the race for Illinois governor. State Rep. Jeanne Ives, R-Wheaton, is circulating petitions to run in the GOP primary against Gov. Bruce Rauner. She said Republicans need a choice because Rauner has failed the integrity test.

“It’s now developed into a pattern where you have a man who said he had no social agenda, who has actually signed into law some of the most progressive social policies across the nations,” Ives said.

Ives noted that Rauner signed a measure critics say makes Illinois a sanctuary state, a bill allowing taxpayer funds be used to pay for elective abortions, and a measure allowing transgender people to change their birth certificate to the gender of their choice.

But it’s not just the social issues Ives criticized Rauner for.

“At the same time,” Ives said, “he’s signed legislation to bail out billion dollar corporations on the backs of ratepayers and to bail out Chicago Public Schools on the backs of taxpayers statewide.”

The suburban lawmaker said she’ll focus on the economy and rooting out corruption. Her running mate is Quad Cities area farmer Richard Morthland.

Ives also has petitions on the street for a bid to get re-elected to the state legislative seat she currently holds.

“We’ll gather those up, but we fully expect to be on the ballot for the governor's race the first week of December,” Ives said.

Fred Floreth, Republican Party state central committeeman for the 13th congressional district, said an incumbent Republican being challenged in the primary isn’t unusual. He recalls someone challenging Gov. Jim Edgar in a Republican Party primary “on many of the same issues that are still with us today.”

Edgar won that primary and went on to win re-election.

Floreth said what is unusual this time around is the sitting governor has been very generous with the state Republican party.

“Much of our funding does come from Gov. Rauner,” Floreth said.

Ives, the first woman from either major party to announce a run for Illinois governor, is sure to trail in campaign funds thanks to Rauner’s personal wealth, but she said the GOP shouldn’t rely on Rauner’s money.

“People need to have a broad base of support and not just look at some sugar daddy to fund the state party and that’s where the Republican party has failed the state of Illinois,” Ives said.

The GOP has failed to appeal to voters that put people in office, she added.

“Money is not a scoreboard in politics and it shouldn't be,” Ives said. “You raise it so that people can understand who you are and what you stand for. We’re going to be outspent, but that doesn't mean we’re going to lose this election by any means.”

Ives complained the GOP is freezing her campaign out.

“The state party should not be the Rauner campaign team which is what it is acting as right now to the point where they have frozen out people that are close to me from databases,” Ives said. “That’s ridiculous.”

Floreth said the party has a policy to support incumbents in primary elections.

“[Ives is] going to have to raise the money herself and she’s up against really a self-financed candidate basically,” Floreth said. “But it will be voters who decide when they hear both sides of the argument.”

Floreth notes Ives may not be the only person to challenge Rauner in the primary. Chicagoan William Kelly is also petitioning to get on the March primary ballot.

He reiterated his position that whatever happens at the primary should stay at the primary and party supporters should back whomever comes out the winner.

photo: Jeanne Ives via JeanneIves.org