Illinois governor 2018, opinions, endorsements, predictions?

[IceSpear]

All these candidates suck. Typical for Illinois. I don't know why they can't find a decent candidate like Duckworth or Obama but instead keep on shoveling out trash like Giannoulias, Quinn, and Pritzker. It's like they want Republicans to win elections they have no business winning.

[RussFeingoldWasRobbed]

Biss is my favorite. Kennedy is my second, and if there was no way for biss to win and Pritzker and Kennedy were in a tight race I would go for him.

[Grassroots]

Rauner, over any dem.

Btw, have you people seen Pritzker's internet ads?

[#gravelgang #lessiglad]

Illinois resident (ignore the flair). I'll be voting for Biss in the primary and in the highly likely chance that JB wins, I'll support Bruce Rauner. I would rather be governed by a non-corrupt Republican than a corrupt Democrat and, frankly, I resent the state democratic party for these horrible choices.

[President Johnson]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

[Donerail]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

Change the avi then buddy

[BundouYMB]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

Mike Madigan is the one kicking Bruce Rauner's ass. Madigan has been passing stuff with veto proof majorities, even with the help of some Republicans. In fact, recently Rauner said "I'm not in charge of the state, Madigan is."

[VPH]

Chris Kennedy.

[Former Kentuckian]

How do you all think Jeanne Ives will do in the primary against Rainer? What percentage do you predict she will receive?

I'm still curious about this. Rauner will win, but how much do you think Ives will get? Illinois people, does the Ives campaign actually exist? Have you seen or heard anything out of her?

[Young Conservative]

Rauner...even though he betrayed the ProLife movement horribly.

[Skunk]

I guess Biss. It's pretty comical how terrible most Illinois Democrats are.

[Sir Mohamed]

I think that Pritzker gets the nomination and then goes on to defeat Rauner 51-45%.

[Ye We Can]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

Mike Madigan is the one kicking Bruce Rauner's ass. Madigan has been passing stuff with veto proof majorities, even with the help of some Republicans. In fact, recently Rauner said "I'm not in charge of the state, Madigan is."

That's the point, dude. If (when) Rauner goes, Madigan can continue to ruin Illinois unabated.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I think that Pritzker gets the nomination and then goes on to defeat Rauner 51-45%.

[_]

I still insist this race is Tossup.
Rauner will keep it within 5 against Pritzker no matter what.
Any other D would make it Lean D minimum.

[Former Kentuckian]

Rauner won't debate Jeanne Ives, no surprise there: http://www.wmay.com/2018/01/12/rauner-declines-republican-primary-debate-invitation/

Ives has the support of another local Republican party/organization:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Source: https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/jeanne-ives-wins-key-straw-poll-in-illinois-republican-primary-469175613.html

Ives now has the support of the Chicago Republican Party, the Rock Island County Republican Party, the Wheeling Township Republican Organization, the Fremont Township Republican Organization, and the Wheaton Township Republican Organization. Rauner has the support of the Winfield Township Republican Organization.

[Blair]

How well is Ives expected to do? I know a lot of republicans are pissed at Rauner; but surely his massive cash advantage will save him in the Primary

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

I still insist this race is Tossup.
Rauner will keep it within 5 against Pritzker no matter what.
Any other D would make it Lean D minimum.

No, Rauner is such a f*** up that there is barely any way for him to win, barring democratic Roy Moore.

[Former Kentuckian]

How well is Ives expected to do? I know a lot of republicans are pissed at Rauner; but surely his massive cash advantage will save him in the Primary

I've been curious about this, too. Rauner will cruise to a win in the primary, but Ives is clearly tapping into that conservative, Tea Party-style anger. She's been running circles around him so far with endorsements from local Republican parties and organizations, and she has very vocal (almost weekly) support from radio host Mike Gallagher and the Illinois Family Institute. She just recently held a huge (and expensive) fundraising party with Gallagher, Dan Proft, and State Rep. Tom Morrison. I've been monitoring her social media and she's been gaining about a thousand followers a week for the past month on Facebook. That obviously doesn't translate into votes (and, like I said, Rainer will win), but she's got some grassroots traction going.

[💥💥 brandon bro (he/him/his)]

I think Rauner will prevail, but Ives is a sleeper. I can see her gaining a lot of traction downstate and Rauner has done very little to excite his Republican base. I don't see her getting a lot of support in a primary contest from Cook County/inner collar county Republicans but depending on how she messages (and what her messaging w/r/t Trump is and how he fares in the next few months) she has a real shot. I'm curious to see if Tea Party-like disruptors have the same primary-level success that they had during the Obama years during the Trump years. Roy Moore obviously crushed Luther Strange but that could be a one-off due to the way Strange was assigned to the Senate. Of course, corruption is par for the course in Republicans so I don't quite see the same outrage surrounding him, just a general lack of enthusiasm (unless the abortion issue really comes back to haunt him, which I somehow doubt).

Whoever wins has a real shot in the general, especially if Pritzker is the nominee. It's been said before but Pritzker is a pretty horrible candidate and I can see Democratic turnout being depressed if he's on the ballot, especially against Rauner.

[catographer]

it's too bad that none of the solid democratic congresspeople in Illinois aren't running. any of them are better than Biss/Kennedy/Pritzker. I'd vote for the Democrat probably but Pritzker seems fishy/corrupt to me, Kennedy is an old legacy name, so I'd vote Biss in primary.

[Mr. Illini]

After some deliberation, I've decided to support Kennedy. He's the only one that has confronted Rahm and the Machine over their failures on issues of gentrification, gun violence, and corruption. Biss has done none of this and yet has earned the support of many progressives by giving lip service to "free college." Insanity.

[GlobeSoc]

After some deliberation, I've decided to support Kennedy. He's the only one that has confronted Rahm and the Machine over their failures on issues of gentrification, gun violence, and corruption. Biss has done none of this and yet has earned the support of many progressives by giving lip service to "free college." Insanity.

I don't like Rahm that much, and Kennedy seems to be the most viable alternative to Pritzker. I will support Kennedy unless he has a scandal that makes him unacceptable to me or Biss receives a massive burst of support that puts Kennedy in 3rd place. I doubt either scenario will occur.

[Nyvin]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

Mike Madigan is the one kicking Bruce Rauner's ass. Madigan has been passing stuff with veto proof majorities, even with the help of some Republicans. In fact, recently Rauner said "I'm not in charge of the state, Madigan is."

They don't veto proof majorities in the state house do they?   I know in the state senate there are GOP members that flip often, but the GOP should be able to hold the line in the state house.

[BundouYMB]

Actually I lean towards Bruce Rauner, just to kick Mike Madigan's a**. Rauner is #NeverTrump Republican and pretty moderate on social issues.

Mike Madigan is the one kicking Bruce Rauner's ass. Madigan has been passing stuff with veto proof majorities, even with the help of some Republicans. In fact, recently Rauner said "I'm not in charge of the state, Madigan is."

They don't veto proof majorities in the state house do they?   I know in the state senate there are GOP members that flip often, but the GOP should be able to hold the line in the state house.

They could hold the line, but they don't. Rauner is so unpopular he can't keep the caucus in line, so some GOP members help override some of his vetoes.