Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

* UPDATED x1 * Business owner, Trump supporter Gary Rabine says he will run for governor

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

Bull Valley resident Gary Rabine, CEO and founder of Schaumburg-based paving, roofing and snow removal company Rabine Group, said Sunday he intends to run for governor in 2022 as a Republican. […]

“Gary Rabine would be a great governor for Illinois,” McHenry Mayor Wayne Jett said. “I believe he can win the primary and ultimately be the next governor.”

McHenry Township Trustee Steve Verr suggested Rabine would be a better governor than fellow Republican Bruce Rauner. […]

“He’s hardly a career politician. Just a brave fellow who can see several steps ahead and the downward spiral of the state under terrible hacks like Rauner and (Gov. J.B.) Pritzker,” he added.

* Rabine is such a country club Republican that he actually owns part of a country club…

McHenry County businessman Gary Rabine is considering running for the Republican nomination for Governor.

He says he will make an announcement by mid-February. […]

In this past year’s 14th congressional district primary election, he endorsed Catalina Lauf, explaining at a Trump rally he hosted at the Bull Valley Country Club (in which he has an ownership interest) that he was a good friend of winner Jim Oberweis, but that Catalina had asked him first.

Republican National Finance Chairman Todd Ricketts was one of the speakers at the event.

Former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke was the headliner at that event.

* Like Rauner, Rabine was an early supporter of Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA. Unlike Rauner, he continues to be a big backer. From last June…

Donations to the conservative student activist group Turning Point USA have more than doubled, leading it to expand its footprint to some 2,000 colleges, universities, and high schools, and deploy thousands of supporters to challenge the wave of young liberal protests tearing down statues and calling the United States systemically racist.

In new tax documents, the Indiana-based group and its affiliates, one of which hosted President Trump in the packed Phoenix Dream City Church yesterday, showed contributions jumped from $10 million in 2018 to $24 million in 2019, and gross receipts at over $30 million. […]

Fundraising support was offered by Friess, who set up “challenge” grants, and conservative philanthropists Bill and Rebecca Dunn and the Jack Roth Charitable Foundation. Others include Tom Sodeika, president of Precision Payroll of America, Rabine Group Founder Gary Rabine, and Doug DeGroote.

* Last October…

Recently, Rabine has become the leader of an informal political organization called Save Illinois, which organizes to replace Illinois politicians who they feel are bad for the economic well-being of residents, Rabine said. The group has hosted a number of rallies in support of Trump and other local candidates that they think will “save Illinois from the fiscal depths that we’re up against,” he said.

The Facebook page appears to be here.

*** UPDATE *** “I believe you shoot to stop bad people, and this has not been the case in Chicago,” Rabine told Jeff Berkowitz last month.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:28 pm

Comments

I bet Pritzker and his team are shaking in their boots at this announcement (sarcasm heavily intended)

Comment by Hmm Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Rabine sounds like a guy about “purity”, who supports racist thinkers like Oberweis, conspiracy theorists like Lauf, and those who incite insurrectionists like the Trump family.

Interesting *who* should support Rabine…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:37 pm
better than Rauner

And that is such a high bar to jump over, too…..

Comment by Fav Human Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:37 pm
Another rich businessman….so excited never seen that before.
Maybe he’ll take his private sector business sense and translate it into government and bring back some common sense…..sn/

Comment by Frank talks Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:40 pm
“Rabine Group Founder Gary Rabine”

Hopefully this candidate has or can get money to really challenge in the GOP primary, being a Trump supporter. May have to stock up on popcorn.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:45 pm
He will get 22-26% of the vote in the primary. Current name ID runs in the 6% column. It’s bad but remember then candidate Bruce Rauner obtained 2% in NAME ID. The gubernatorial race for 2022 is SAFE DEMOCRAT. Won’t be a cakewalk but Mr Pritzker will win again.

Comment by Numbers Guy Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:46 pm
Here…

… and Rabine types wonder why Krishnamoorthi, Underwood, Casten, Schneider, and Foster are sitting in Congress and Ives, Lauf, and Oberweis aren’t.

Rabine tells you why… right here.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:46 pm
Turning Point and Charlie Kirk were big supporters of the assault on the US Capitol in January. I don’t see those kind of guys getting lots of votes in Illinois.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:51 pm
David Clarke and Trump? Oh man where do I sign up /sn

Also, I suspect based on what I am reading that this dude would enjoy being governor about as much as a dental cleaning.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:52 pm
I can’t wait for the flannels, and vests at every Lincoln dinner in Southern Illinois come summertime. At least 50% of these people will think it’s Bruce Rauner again.

Comment by Almost the weekend Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:52 pm
Rabine: Because Jeanne Ives is too liberal.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:55 pm
Rich White business guy no governmental experience. Checks all the boxes on the Republican diversity charts

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 1:58 pm
Any word on wher Q approves this?

Comment by Shaman Bill Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:01 pm
Rich White business guy no governmental experience. Checks all the boxes on the Republican diversity charts

Isn’t that our current governor?

Comment by Masker Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:03 pm
Ah yes, that career politician Bruce Rauner. Lots of experience in elected office before his election, and it worked out so well for Illinois. Having a more racist version of the same will be sure to solve the state’s problems.

Comment by Rich Hill Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:08 pm
=== It’s bad but remember then candidate Bruce Rauner obtained 2% in NAME ID.===

All “Pre-Trump”… not baking in Trumpkin thinkings, it’s a mistake.

Also, unlike Quinn for Rauner, Pritzker already proved he’d spend $300,000 a day, every single day, for 430+ days.

That’s a huge mountain to think about, even from a wealthy person’s perspective.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:09 pm
=== Isn’t that our current governor?===

Needed the current governor to save Illinois from Rauner.

Like I typed above, it cost Pritzker $300K a day, every day, for 430+ days to save Illinois.

The rest… Pritzker owns, as all governors own.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:12 pm
=Rabine: Because Jeanne Ives is too liberal.=

hehe, that made me smile.

=“I believe you shoot to stop bad people, and this has not been the case in Chicago,”=

So he would have shot all of the insurrectionist traitors that attacked the Capital?

Bold statement for a Trump loving GOP guy.

Comment by JS Mill Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:23 pm
How many politically active folks named “Gary Rabine” do we have in this state? Is he the same dude with past donations to Chicago Dems like Rahm Emanuel and Ed Burke? lol

Comment by hisgirlfriday Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:26 pm
We knew what the governorship was, but it took JB to establish the price. (Hat tip to OW for the math:))

Comment by don the legend Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:26 pm
Someone might want to check into where he was on Jan. 6th…just to be safe.

Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:26 pm
Rabine better book Marjorie Taylor Greene now. I’m sure her dance card is filling up fast.

Comment by don the legend Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:38 pm
JS Mill is spot on.

Comment by Not the Dude Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:46 pm
“Maybe he’ll take his private sector business sense and translate it into government and bring back some common sense….”

At least he has some real business experience. Unlike Rauner (investor / vulture capitalist) & Trump (real estate developer), neither of whom were what Adam Smith would call a businessperson. Can we agree a not everyone from the private sector is a “businessperson” ??

Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:48 pm
==[S]ave Illinois from the fiscal depths that we’re up against==

The same way Jack Kevorkian ’saved’ people from needless suffering.

Comment by Jocko Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:49 pm
“Better for Illinois than Bruce Rauner”…is one priceless campaign slogan.

Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:50 pm
The reaction all sane moderate Republicans who want to actually rebuild the party are having to this news.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

Comment by Moderate Republican Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:54 pm
Candidates who support Trump will not get independent voters and many moderate Republican voters. Trump has setback the party for decades

Comment by X suburban mayor Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 2:56 pm
Checks the loony box.

GOPQ with another winner.

Comment by MickJ Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:10 pm
His name is an anagram for “binary rage”.

Comment by Shark Sandwich Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:22 pm
I think this means that Jeanne Ives will not be running for governor. Unless of course she wants to split the QAnon vote in the primary and elect a sane Republican.

Comment by Turner Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:22 pm
Makes me want to spit up. Another wealthy, steely eyed, determined rich guy who has the will to save Illinois, if only we would believe as he does. Being a governor, And actually getting things done, has only minor similarity to being an executive of a privately owned company. Governing is more like trying to get a dog sled moving in the right direction, when the dogs are arranged in a circle.

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:23 pm
So…. the answer is to shoot more people in Chicago? So says the rich guy from a McHenry County golf course???

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:40 pm
Langhorne - I have never heard that explanation and it actually made me laugh. It is also why being CEO does not translate well to being gov or President.

Comment by The Way I See It Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 3:45 pm
It would be asking too much for him to even consider the justifiable use of deadly force before he suggests shooting people. What a maroon.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:10 pm
Ahh Bull Valley.

The Florida of McHenry County.

Comment by Dee Lay Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:13 pm
**he was a good friend of winner Jim Oberweis, but that Catalina had asked him first.**

This is leadership, my friends. It is not the leadership we need, but it is the leadership we all deserve.

Comment by SaulGoodman Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:15 pm
I am fed up with business people who think they can run state government like a business. It is short sighted and lacks understanding of what government means.

This guy knows his way around a parking lot. What makes him think he is qualified to be governor? He is wealthy and has a “R” after his name.

Golly jeepers. Where do I sign his petition.

Not.

Comment by Huh? Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 4:20 pm
To the Update

Wowsa.

Do these folks not carry business insurance?

Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 5:51 pm
== Ahh Bull Valley.

The Florida of McHenry County. ==

True statement. I do not miss living in that area.

Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Feb 8, 21 @ 10:19 pm