Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Heidner has been pretty camera shy since jumping into the race and spending a quarter mil on his petition drive. But WGN’s Tahman Bradley convinced him to sit down and talk…
Bradley: And then there’s Rick heidner. He’s the head of a statewide video gambling empire. He’s already dropped a million dollars into his own campaign war chest. Heidner calls himself a Trump Republican, but we haven’t seen much of him on the campaign trail or on TV until now.
Heidner: My biggest thing is, is that people should be safe. All right. Illinois shouldn’t be for anyone to use as a stage for another, another venture. All right, you know, I’m in a regulated business. You know, I’ve got, we’ve got four major businesses as a family, and the biggest businesses is my Gold Rush business and and it’s regulated, by the way, you know, the governor is my regulator. So this, this is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done in my life. This is probably the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done in my life, and this is the bravest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But my heart and my soul just kept telling me, ‘Rick, you have to do this. Rick, you have to do this.’
Discuss.
- All Right? - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 8:49 am:
All Right.
- Really? - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 8:56 am:
There is no evidence that Governor Pritzker uses his regulatory responsibilities in a retaliatory fashion. Hence, it is odd that Heidner is framing his bid as courageous.
Honest, decent elected officials simply do not conduct business in the same manner as the President, or even the former IL Speaker of the House for that matter. Who Pritzker also routinely called out for behavior unbecoming of an individual entrusted with the public’s best interest.
- InIllinois - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:05 am:
Disappointed he didn’t say “this is the biggest gamble I’ve ever taken in my life.”
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:11 am:
- by the way, you know, the governor is my regulator -
- this is the bravest thing I’ve ever done in my life. -
I’m pretty sure the fox said the same thing when he applied for that job guarding the hen house.
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:13 am:
‘Rick, you have to do this. Rick, you have to do this.’
Morgan Freeman voice:
He didn’t have to do this.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:18 am:
My, but the right-wing love them some grand and noble crusades.
- Casper the Ghost Bus - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:30 am:
You know, I don’t think, you know, he’s gonna win, you know.
- Steve - Wednesday, Jan 28, 26 @ 9:49 am:
Rick sure has a past…
https://tinyurl.com/yeymjj6z