Yeah, no
Friday, May 29, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Daily Herald…
It could ultimately prove fitting that Collin Corbett chose to announce the launch of his bid for governor outside the former Arlington Park, the site of many an improbable finish.
The longtime Republican Party political operative filed as an independent candidate Wednesday, saying he has the best chance to beat incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker. […]
Corbett said he may be running against a billionaire and a millionaire, but he is neither. Corbett is the founder of the political consulting firm Cor Strategies.
“I’m an everyday person, like the Illinoisans that deserve representation,” he said. “We’re still in our starter home. We’re facing the same struggles that everyday Illinoisans are facing.”
* From Corbett’s last podcast…
I’ve spent 20 years and well over a million dollars of my own money trying to fix [the Republican Party] from within, and I have failed, so now I’m going to fix it from outside
I’m not sure I know too many average Joe’s who’ve spent well over a million dollars of their own money trying to fix a political party.
Just sayin…
- Steve - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:05 am:
He’s so independent. What an incredible movement this man represents ! This is funny stuff. I got the laugh of the day on this one.
- JS Mill - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:10 am:
=I’m not sure I know too many average Joe’s who’ve spent well over a million dollars of their own money trying to fix a political party.=
I am. None.
- low level - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:13 am:
Seriously, like, whatever dude. Maybe Collin thinks it will help get clients. Whatever.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:22 am:
His campaign for governor will be as successful as his efforts to fix the Republican Party. And I hope for him not as expensive
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:28 am:
I have spent well over a million dollars of my own money trying to become a powerful tycoon.
Well, okay, it was Monopoly money.
- Jerry - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:31 am:
Speaking of Arlington Park. How does the new Republican candidate feel about Government Handouts for the new owners of that land? I’m assuming that would be anathema to his party.
- Annon'in - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:36 am:
Capt Fax if he really did drop that kind of moolah (footnote bring out the receciepts) he needs a refund and/or admit having failed must withdraw from the quest of being IL’s chief executive and seek an UBER route. It is a little like GovJunk touting his biz success after running a bank out of biz.
- People’s Republic of Oak Park - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:40 am:
So, like there are very few people who go can successfully go from operative to elected because it is a very different skill set and not necessarily transferable. That said, Conor has never been a consultants consultant and his business was a means to an end. He is going to give a permission structure to independent college educated suburban voters to bail on Pritzker. Does he have the ability to raise money to make that a reality. Pritzker still wins but a strong showing establishes standing.
This feels to me like the Proft run in 2010. Get a bunch of free press, raise your profile, find a Republican mega donor benefactor and then bilk them until they get fed up or pass away.
- H-W - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:44 am:
It sounds as if Mr. Corbett is saying, “I am not a millionaire or billionaire because I have consistently thrown millions at a losing cause.”
I am not sure that’s the leadership message you want to offer, Mr. Corbett.
- Annon3 - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:48 am:
I wish Mr Corbett and his fresh ideas for Illinois conservatives all the best. Though I am not sure that throwing money on a fire is all that conservative.
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 10:57 am:
Reminds me of an old joke… How do you get one million dollars farming…? You start with two.
An average Joe can be worth a million dollars. But an average Joe does not have a million dollars to burn on politics.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:01 am:
- Maybe Collin thinks it will help get clients. -
There is no maybe. This is the “moderate” version of the Dan Proft playbook.
- King Louis XVI - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:14 am:
As a small business owner of a political consulting business, Collins’ expenditures or contributions work out to about $50,000 a year. More than an “average Joe” could afford certainly, but not pharonic in a small consulting business, but enough, perhaps, to keep one anchored in their “starter home.”
- Candy Dogood - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:16 am:
===I’m an everyday person===
The problem with Republicans is that they have a tendency to think that some people aren’t really people. Perhaps he should start by explaining who he thinks aren’t persons?
- Anchor - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:23 am:
The average Joe called Collin also lives in a modest 3 bedroom split level home in Palatine to enhance his everyman credentials.
Pretty selfless of him.
- Sue - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:49 am:
I’m guessing the “own money” is an accounting that says, “in a back of the envelope calculation, I could have earned that much more over the course of my career if I hadn’t provided my consulting services at what I considered below-market rates to candidates I supported but instead charged them market rates.” Or even simply, “I could have earned enough more per year on average that I’d have $1,000,000 more in the bank now, if I had chosen a higher-paying occupation.”
- Rich Miller - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:52 am:
===I’m guessing===
Lotta body twists in that comment. lol
- Walker - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:53 am:
Wow That guy from Palatine, and that woman from McHenry?
My impression has been these two have generally leaned to the right of Mr. Del Mar (Bailiey’s running mate), and the other local Republicans in this area. Maybe the’ve seen the light.
Truth is, he couldn’t beat Nabeela.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 11:58 am:
What??? No used van and Timex watch schtick?
Go back home and get your shine box.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 12:00 pm:
If you ever need two plus two to equal five and three-quarters, call Sue.
- pawn - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 12:08 pm:
“and I have failed” = such a winning message. Vote for me, as I have failed!
- Grandson of Man - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 12:31 pm:
“I’ve spent 20 years and well over a million dollars of my own money trying to fix [the Republican Party]”
Why should any voter trust those who claim to be for reform and fiscal responsibility when they throw millions of their own dollars down the sinkhole of the ILGOP?
What is Republican these days anyway? With the latest elections, MAGA is hammering in the last few nails of a coffin already sealed.
- Demoralized - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
I’m not sure it’s good for a candidate for Governor to say he identified a problem and failed to fix it.
- here we go again - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 12:42 pm:
Corbett has done nothing for years but mooch gobs of money out of the Republican Party via gullible candidates and party officials, and by doing his part to keep the Illinois GOP dysfunctional so he could convince the gullible to keep relying on him. Sounds like he finally overplayed his hand and now seeks a new angle.
That said, Darren Bailey is such a weak statewide candidate it’s plausible Corbett could come in second, getting slaughtered by marginally less than Bailey is slaughtered by. Not predicting it, but realistic possibility. Bailey himself is obviously worried as he inexplicably said out loud recently.
- Wonderful World - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 1:41 pm:
I received a text from him thanking me for signing his petition. I did not. I believe someone will examine those petition signatures, right?
- Excitable Boy - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 2:54 pm:
- I believe someone will examine those petition signatures, right? -
If Bailey challenges them, I doubt Pritzker will.
- Bob - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 4:03 pm:
Maybe there’s something to a guy who has given his time and talents to a party saying “yeah, this isn’t working” and not being afraid to say so.
- thisjustinagain - Friday, May 29, 26 @ 4:34 pm:
To Bob at 4:03pm. Sort of like the convicted felon who ran in a local election near me. He didn’t lie or hide it. I thought “Well, he’s honest enough to tell people.” But with Corbett being a lobbyist/consultant to the Party or candidates he’s giving up on (allegedly), it’s a slightly different angle leaving a bad taste in some people’s mouths, judging by the comments posted.