Four Republicans running for governor already have received a fair amount of publicity.
There was a fifth hopeful … and he is among 22 candidates removed Thursday from the March primary ballot by the State Board of Elections.
Also gone are two Republicans who had hoped to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin this fall.
William Lee, of Rockton, and Armen Alvarez, of Chicago, were found ineligible for the primary because of problems with their nominating petitions. Two Republicans remain in the Senate race, though: State Sen. Jim Oberweis, of Sugar Grove, and Downers Grove businessman Doug Truax. No one is challenging Durbin in the primary.
Supposed GOP gubernatorial hopeful Peter Edward Jones has no website, no Facebook page, and no political action committee or campaign fund. The number last listed for his Franklin Park address has been disconnected.
A state Republican Party spokesman said he hadn't heard of Jones until his name showed up as having turned in petitions – which fell more than a little short.
To run for governor, a candidate must turn in thousands of signatures from registered voters. Jones submitted only 35. So the elections board voted to take him off the primary ballot.
Whether Gov. Pat Quinn will have a Democratic primary opponent is still undecided.
Quinn turned in plenty of legitimate signatures, the State Board of Election's Jim Tenuto says, so the board denied an objection to the incumbent’s petitions.
An objection to former Ceasefire director Tio Hardiman’s petitions is still pending. The board delayed a ruling on that case because it's so complicated.
24 survived challenges, including Governor Pat Quinn and his running mate Paul Vallas.
The primary election will be held Tuesday, March 18.
Illinois Public Radio's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.