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Republican Kirk Dillard has been approached “by prominent business and Republican leaders” to run for governor, but he told Playbook he’s not interested.

Dillard wouldn’t need training wheels for the job given he was chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar and has legislative experience.

“Currently, I have a wonderfully balanced personal and professional life,” he said. “These civic leaders came to me, not vice versa. I am not harboring a desire to run for governor.”

Dillard, who is chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority’s board of directors, said he’s “laser focused” on guiding the Chicago area regional mass transit system out of the pandemic. “It’s an economic engine and an economic equalizer for our local communities and the state of Illinois.”

All eyes are watching to see if Reps. Rodney Davis or Darin LaHood make a move for the governor’s office. They haven’t ruled out running, and their decisions could be based on how their districts are redrawn.

Kirk mentioned his stint as Edgar’s chief of staff more often than Scott Drury talked about being a former federal prosecutor. Anyway, no surprise there. He has a good life after losing two gubernatorial primaries by razor-thin margins.

And LaHood’s voting record would not be great in a general election race for governor, to say the least. And, frankly, neither will Davis’. You can be considered a moderate in DC, but still be a far-right candidate statewide here.

* Meanwhile, from Mark Maxwell…

Six months after his colleagues quietly removed him from power, former Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady is contemplating a political comeback.

In a Wednesday night phone call en route from Florida to Illinois, Brady (R-Bloomington) said he’s considering a potential statewide run for office as Secretary of State, Governor, or perhaps Senator Tammy Duckworth’s seat in the U.S. Senate.

“I’m interested in public service, and I’m entertaining different ways I can serve,” Brady said.

Senate Republicans ousted him in a private meeting last fall, opting instead to hand the reins of the caucus’ top job to Senator Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods). Brady announced his retirement from his Senate seat shortly thereafter.

Go read the whole thing before commenting. Quite the oppo dump in there. Whew.

* The Question: Should Bill Brady run for statewide office? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…

web survey

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:19 pm

Comments

“All eyes are watching to see if Reps. Rodney Davis or Darin LaHood”

That might be an overstatement…I don’t see either joining the race suddenly making it a game-changer. How many suburban Republicans know much about them beyond just their names (if that)?

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:24 pm
===That might be an overstatement===

No might about it. Now please get back to the topic at hand.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:26 pm
Is it permissible to vote “Yes, but for purposes of comedic value only?”

Comment by Chambananon Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:26 pm
I am a Democrat. Bill Brady (and his staff) is 100% better to work with than Pritzker (and his staff). The state needs someone who is willing to listen and return calls. I think Brady could pick up some Dem votes if he could make it through the crowded Primary.

Comment by Rhinestone Cowboy Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:27 pm
Voted yes. I wouldn’t vote for Brady for anything, but if he wants to throw his hat in the ring, more power to him.

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:27 pm
Voted no. He just needs to go hang out with Oberwiess for a while and perhaps he will see the light.

Comment by allknowingmasterofraccoodom Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:32 pm
*Should* Bill Brady run? No. He has some money to play with, but I can’t imagine either establishment Rs or conservative Rs would be excited about him. If he’s willing to buy his way through a Secretary of State Primary, I guess all power to him.

Comment by CubsFan16 Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:32 pm
The Bloomington-Normal housing market is finally good again. Maybe Brady should focus on that?

Darin LaHood’s name being floated for statewide office is hilarious. The only thing he ever had going for him was the old man’s good name which isn’t good anymore. But I guess that’s also a good reason to see himself as the weakest link in whatever GOP primary/district he gets forced into.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:32 pm
Maybe if Illinois had runoff primaries, but under our first-past-the-post primary, he’d have a greater shot of being a spoiler.

Comment by Blake Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Bill Brady should run for Secretary of State,
If Alexi Giannoulias is the Democratic Nominee a candidate like Brady has a chance.

Comment by Barstool in Hamel Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Bill needs to stay retired. The GOP primary for any statewide office is going to turn on one question only, Do You Support Messiah and Savior Trump?

Bill has to be smart enough to realize he doesn’t want or need to deal with what will be a circus of goofballs running to show their love to Trump.

Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:38 pm
>

Well I’m an elephant and I think the lions could pick up some votes if they could make it through a primary with the tigers.

Pritzker is pretty accessible. As is his staff. And wildly popular with his base. And running in a Dem state when partisan politics really matter. And as noted with other candidates - Brady will have to answer for a GOP record.

I actually voted no because I like Bill. He’s a decent guy. I don’t think he can win statewide and I think the process of losing again would be much more miserable than it has been in the past.

Comment by DuPage Dem Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:39 pm
Gotta think NoTaxBill is d.o.n.e as a candidate. He unexplained video poker payday cemented that idea. Look if the poor LaHood family can be dismantled by a fake loan from a Nigerian S&L (oh that’s right it as not a bank) then Brady is SOL

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:47 pm
Voted no. Bill Brady couldn’t beat Pat Quinn who had the stain of Rob Blagojevich to contend with. I can’t see any scenario where he takes down JB Pritzker.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:49 pm
No. He’d be easy pickings if he made it to the general.

Comment by Fav Human Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:50 pm
He’s done. Maybe he doesn’t realize that yet? If they removed him, it doesn’t bode well to just get beyond a primary.

Comment by ddp76 Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 1:53 pm
Sorry but I Cringed when I read =gypped= in the article. Seems like word out to have been removed from circulation years ago.

Comment by Chito Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:03 pm
I think he has a better shot at something than the vast majority of people who might actually run on the GOP side.

Not sure what that says about the GOP….

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:06 pm
I voted yes only because I think he would be an easy candidate for Pritzker to beat but also because he is at least not part of the krazy wing of the party so debates would at least be substantive and grounded in reality’s version of facts.

Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:11 pm
He’s done. His time has passed. The family has some financial issues to clear up in regards to the loan his brother took out and did not pay back.

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:13 pm
Oh, Bill. Isn’t that special. The only groundswell you hear is in your head and the heads of your consultants who’d like a gravy train. Save yourself the effort.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:27 pm
No. He already did. Didn’t turn out well.

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:48 pm
I doubt that a majority of Illinois voters could pick Edgar out of a lineup, let alone have an idea who his chief of staff might have been.

Both Dillard and Brady should stay on the sidelines from now on.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 2:55 pm
Sure - so he can be reminded again that his time is up.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 3:06 pm
Well. Because of Madigan.

Comment by Yes, he should. Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 3:22 pm
Voted no because you don’t want to be the GOP version of Pat Quinn and not know when the time has come to walk away and do something else.

Comment by uialum Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 3:24 pm
I voted no. I respect Kirk Dillard but not so much Bill Brady.

Comment by The Dude Abides Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 4:04 pm
Yes, it would be very funny.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 4:12 pm
=== Should Bill Brady run for statewide office? Take the poll and then explain your answer in comments, please…===

My take is pretty simple.

Do *I* think so?

As I’ve always said, “run ‘em all”.

If Brady thinks with all that oppo and what’s happening now in Florida he can run, have at it.

But, if he runs, to say it’s going to be tough, uphill, and daily hits on him personally… that’s just the appetizers.

A fair shake run for Brady now… is part and parcel of the oppo that will continually overshadow a great many things.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 4:24 pm
A solid “yes” from a solid Dem. It would help ensure we keep whatever he runs for in Dem hands.

In all seriousness…no, just no. C’mon man, you had a good run; time to let it go and make bank lobbying.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 4:39 pm
Voted no. What R could win a majority of the votes for any statewide office, the way the party is formulated now?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 4:49 pm
Voted “no”. I met with Brady (in a admin group setting) and never once did demonstrate concern for the whole state or public education as evidenced by his support of the rauner disaster and his attempt to push state money to his religious alma mater.

I voted for Dillard in the primary. I thought he was a very good candidate. He was crushed by rauner’s money and lies. He won’t fair any better against Pritzker. It has been too long and he should pass as he has indicated he will.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 6:41 pm
I voted no. He wasn’t a viable candidate for Governor in the past as he wasn’t able to answer questions that he should have known the answers too. His background has too many unanswered issues.

Comment by Just Curious Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 7:19 pm
Sure why not? He can lose another one if he wants?

Comment by Levois J Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 9:28 pm
In my admittedly limited conversations with Brady, he didn’t strike me as having the depth or nuance of someone who should run for state-wide office. He seemed too much to think/act out of a narrow script, at least when it came to grappling with the common good wherever it might involve state investment rather than cuts and efficiences.

Comment by Yooper in Diaspora Tuesday, Apr 13, 21 @ 11:16 pm
Dillard never said he didn’t want to be Governor

Comment by Sox59 Wednesday, Apr 14, 21 @ 6:13 am