* On the day JB Pritzker announced his first reelection bid in July of 2021, three already announced Republican opponents issued responses: Darren Bailey, Paul Schimpf and Gary Rabine.
The declared Republican field so far this year…
DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for governor in February. Lake Forest businessman and former 10th Congressional District candidate Joe Severino joined the GOP field in April. Phil Perez, a mechanic and member of the Posen Park District Commission, is also running.
More from those folks…
Mendrick said Pritzker is offering Illinoisans more of the same and might not finish his term.
“For him, an election is like, ‘Hey, can I buy that election on aisle three because I want to buy a different election on aisle four in a couple years.’ It’s just fast food, pay-to-play politics,” Mendrick told The Center Square.
Severino has criticized other Republicans and said the GOP nominee must not be someone who has helped shield Democrats.
“We have to draw a distinction between the Republican agenda and ideologies and values versus what we’ve had for the last six-and-a-half years. I think when there’s a stark contrast rather than blurring the lines with these pseudo-Republicans, people will shake off the voter fatigue and show up at the ballot box and it will favor the Republicans,” Severino told The Center Square.
Other Republicans rumored to be considering a run include Illinois U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, and state Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City. […]
“The current administration hasn’t done a good job of being straightforward with the people of Illinois. I think that honesty is going to be the best policy in this campaign,” Perez told The Center Square.
Perez called the Pritzker administration’s taxing and spending “outrageous” and said his biggest priority is to get Illinois back on track.
* More from Sheriff Mendrick…
“It’s disappointing where we are right now, I think, in Illinois. We’ve been basically taxed back into the Stone Age. I didn’t think it could get any worse till I hear they want to tax mileage on your car and put in a device to track you while they do it,” Mendrick said. […]
“It’s the definition of insanity electing someone like him again. Do you really think it’s going to be different the third term or do you think we’re going to have more of the same taxation, violation of law?” Mendrick asked.
Nice to see the sheriff is buying into deliberately false Facebook posts.
* Rep. Dan Ugaste has said he’s considering a bid…
Last week in East Peoria, Governor Pritzker stated that enacting property tax reforms is now a legislative priority as he intends to seek a third term in office. Yet, for the last seven years the Governor has been in office, he and the supermajority Democrats have done nothing to help Illinois residents with enacting any reforms to help lower sky-high and ever-increasing property tax rates.
The problems could not get much worse. Illinois has the second worst effective property tax rate in the nation, according to Rocket Mortgage. In addition, a study from SmartAsset named Peoria as the city with the highest property taxes in the nation relative to median home value.
“It is absolutely outrageous for the Governor and Democrat supermajority to now come out and say they want to lower property taxes in Illinois,” stated Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva). “After seven years of doing nothing, now we should trust that the Governor and his party’s supermajorities plan on addressing the problem? I’ve filed real legislation to provide relief, and I’ll drive to Springfield today if the Governor is ready to finally stand up for working families and join me.
“If the Governor is serious, then stop campaigning and start governing,” Rep. Ugaste continued. “Call a Special Session. Let’s vote. My bill, HB 9, which would have provided nearly $2.8 billion dollars in property tax relief this year alone, has been ready to go since last Session. Once fully implemented, some areas of the State could see a 50 percent reduction in their property tax levy. It is estimated this plan could save Illinois property taxpayers approximately $82 billion over the next 21 years.”
HB9 would take the difference between 25 percent of all state general funds appropriations and what’s spent on pensions and then use that money for the property tax relief fund. By my calculation, that would be $3.3 billion in the coming fiscal year. The bill does not specify how that new payment would be funded. But that’s a lot of cuts and/or tax hikes.
* Freedom Caucus…
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has made his bid for a third official, but the Illinois Freedom Caucus is urging Illinois voters to stop him from doing to the country what he has done to Illinois by stopping his re-election bid.
Under Governor Pritzker’s watch the budget has grown from $40.3 billion to a whopping $55 billion. He has consistently refused to exercise any fiscal restraint. He has spent hundreds of millions on illegal immigrants. Instead of getting tough on crime, he continues to target honest gun owners. The Illinois Freedom Caucus is issuing the following statement on JB Pritzker’s re-election announcement.
“By every measure, JB Pritzker’s tenure as Governor has been a complete disaster. Despite massive state spending, we have done nothing to address Illinois’ pension crisis, nor have we done anything to lower property taxes under his watch. Even when confronted with a massive budget hole, Governor Pritzker still signed into a law yet another record spending bill. The combination of high taxes and the Governor’s far-left policies has made Illinois a leader in the nation in outmigration. If Governor Pritzker’s leadership was so great – why is Illinois consistently a leader in outbound moves every year? We can’t allow Governor Pritzker’s presidential bid to get any momentum and the way to do that is to stop him in 2026. He has already set our state back financially and morally. For the good of the country, we must not give him a third term.”
Those spending growth claims are debunked here and here.
* Related…
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:12 pm:
I don’t think the Governor is losing any sleep over these Republican day dreamers. I have no idea who the GOP should nominate but it should not be any of these people. Jeanie Ives would run better than any of them and has name recognition I don’t want her either but she would be more interesting
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:18 pm:
“I didn’t think it could get any worse till I hear they want to tax mileage on your car”
This is one of the shibboleths I use to determine if someone understands the world they live in, or is just mindlessly parroting something they heard someone else say.
Here’s a secret, James. If you drive a gasoline vehicle, and I know you do, the state already taxes you on the miles you drive. There is just one variable, and you have complete control over it - the fuel efficiency of the vehicle you drive. When you drive a fuel efficient vehicle, your tax per mile is lower than when you drive an inefficient vehicle.
If Medrick makes the ballot, the election will be called for JB 7 seconds after the polls close. The only way it would be called faster, is if Wilhour makes it onto the ballot.
- ZC - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:20 pm:
Oh no. Severino? Say it ain’t so Joe.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:22 pm:
- ‘Hey, can I buy that election on aisle three because I want to buy a different election on aisle four in a couple years.’ It’s just fast food, pay-to-play politics,” -
I’ve tried to find a coherent thought in these sentences but it does not exist.
Mendrick is a clown, I look forward to him getting blown out.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:28 pm:
Paul Vallas - going to say what many here have said about Pat Quinn. How can we miss you if you won’t go away?
- Highland, IL - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
I’m fine with the Illinois Freedom Caucus taking turns losing.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:34 pm:
Man, talk about a list of Who???
Old enough to remember when you knew the GOP nominee simply by what state office they held.
- Pundent - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:37 pm:
The notion of property tax relief is premised in the belief that there’s a source of ready funds just waiting to be returned to the taxpayers. If Ugaste or any other candidate is going to offer this up the least they could is show their math and in particular enlighten us on the source of revenue they’re relying in. As they say, campaigning is easy, governing is hard. And the ILGOP doesn’t do hard.
- James - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:38 pm:
Brad Cole for Governor.
- Max - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:43 pm:
These barking dogs wouldn’t know what to do if they ever caught the car.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:52 pm:
Do these GOP candidates live in the same solar system as us?
- Loop Lady - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 1:59 pm:
Paul Vallas is turning into an obnoxious windbag.
- Annon'in - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:07 pm:
Brad Cole too smart to step into GOPie quick sand, but we can’t say same for CommandoIves. Let’s get into her in the combat gear (ala Kristi Noem) and onto the field of play. Of course without the Sugar Daddies and Big Words Proft it might be a very low visibility march.
- Siualum - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:09 pm:
Throughout the 90’s with Republican governors, property reform was uttered many times, with numerous committees and commissions formed to solve the issue. I don’t recall anything meaningful coming out of Republican leadership during their tenure.
- Roadrager - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:14 pm:
==Paul Vallas is turning into an obnoxious windbag.==
It’s a 360-degree turn.
Man, did the DuPage Democrats ever biff one by letting Mendrick run unopposed. Every utterance from him shows an increasing level of internet brain poisoning.
- Excitable Boy - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:23 pm:
- Man, did the DuPage Democrats ever biff one by letting Mendrick run unopposed. -
No kidding. He’s said some truly goofy stuff on the record since the day he became Sheriff, I couldn’t believe they didn’t put up an opponent.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:25 pm:
===I couldn’t believe they didn’t put up an opponent. ===
I’m told an effort was made. Not sure how hard they worked, though.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:28 pm:
My property taxes are fine, Dan. Civilization costs money. Maybe consider doing something about Workers’ Comp causation, it was less than 10 years ago Rauner and all the big brain defense lawyers were telling us that without this Illinois would have 25% unemployment as everyone rushes to build out their businesses in Indiana and Missouri, i.e. the brain drain states.
- Jibba - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 2:44 pm:
I’m prepared to call the election for JB right now. Any hand wringing over JB’s presumed weaknesses is soothed when hearing these pols talk. Honesty is in short supply? We’re on the wrong track? These people must not live in our universe.
- Dotnonymous x - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 4:03 pm:
- We’ve been basically taxed back into the Stone Age. I didn’t think it could get any worse till (I hear) they want to tax mileage on your car and put in a device to track you while they do it,” Mendrick said. -
Mendrick goes by what he hears…no matter the source or accuracy…wait ’till he hears the Sky is falling…He gonna have a conniption fit!
- Just Me 2 - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 5:04 pm:
=== “The current administration hasn’t done a good job of being straightforward with the people of Illinois. I think that honesty is going to be the best policy in this campaign,” Perez told The Center Square. ===
Could say the exact same thing about Trump. Just sayin….
- JS Mill - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 5:18 pm:
@Pundent +1. So well stated.
It is going to be fun to see how the contest for biggest loser turns out.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 5:52 pm:
===I’m told an effort was made.===
This is right up there with “some is not a number” and “soon is not a time.”
The demographic sift in the collar counties has not been without growing pains.
- ZC - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 7:38 pm:
It’s interesting to see the process in partisan reverse from what happens in some “red” dominated states, ones where the out party (say Democrats in Alabama) kind of descend into petty internecine warfare, fight each other to be kings of the molehill, and generally consign themselves to irrelevance until some external tsunami strikes.
- Fivegreenleaves - Monday, Jun 30, 25 @ 9:05 pm:
Has anyone actually read the vehicle mileage tax bill? The tax is mentioned as an alternative to the motor fuel tax, not an addition. I guess the GOP only knows how to criticize. Why let facts get in the way of politics?