Politics

The Illinois Governor's Race: The Money Game

The 2018 race for Illinois governor could be the most expensive in U.S. history. With nine months until election day, the five leading candidates have raised more than $136 million, already exceeding any other contest before in Illinois. Democrat J.B. Pritzker has spent over $34 million of his $49 million campaign chest in an attempt to win the Democratic nomination. And a once sleepy Republican race has seen shifting alliances in recent weeks, after billionaire Dick Uihlein gave $2.5 million to Gov. Bruce Rauner's challenger, Illinois House Rep. Jeanne Ives, who opposes abortion and rights for gay and transgender people.To track this money circus, ProPublica Illinois has created a graphic that will update with the latest fundraising information.

State Rep. Ives Will Oppose Rauner In Primary

Northern Public Radio | By WNIJ News

Published October 30, 2017 at 10:03 AM CDT

A state representative from Wheaton has begun circulating petitions in an effort to challenge Gov. Bruce Rauner in next year's Republican primary.

Jeanne Ives, who has been in the Illinois House since 2013, has been critical of Rauner for signing certain legislation, including a plan that allows public funds to pay for abortions. She is considered among the legislature’s more conservative members.

In a news release, Ives says she is running to "restore common sense to Illinois." She is a 1987 graduate of West Point, served in the Army in Germany, and was an ROTC instructor at Wheaton College. Before running for the General Assembly, she served on the Wheaton City Council.

Former State Rep. Rich Morthland, of the Quad Cities, who served two years in the House, will be her running mate.