So Quinn didn't win, but he proved it was possible

[Mr. Illini]

But alas, I doubt we'll see that happening any time soon. Expect Rauner's opponent in 2018 to beat him in a bunch of counties.

Don't count on it.  Southern Illinois is trending so heavily Republican that I doubt even a moderate Republican like Rauner would lose there.  Plus, he'll be confined by an overwhelmingly Democrat legislature that will make his less controversial proposals nearly impossible to pass.  Since he pledged to work with Democrats during the campaign, it will be much easier for him to push for fiscal conservatism in a more palatable way, unlike Snyder, Walker, Kasich, etc.

How you underestimate Illinois Democrats, my friend. Expect the budget crisis to be dealt with under Rauner's tenure. Dems won't miss the opportunity to push it to the top of the priority list while the face of government is a Republican. They'll gloriously bury him in 2018 over it if my predictions serve me, because the fix will be painful for sure.

And ILDems don't need to work with Rauner, frankly. He can make all the promises he wants, he's at their whim really.