February 16, 2021 – Governor J.B. Pritzker hasn’t announced if he’ll run for a second term, but former Waterloo Republican state Senator Paul Schimpf has announced he’s running for governor. He said he will be focusing on responsible government, safe communities, and free-market principles. Schimpf also said Monday he would be different than incumbent Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker by being transparent.
“The Pritzker administration has not given the Illinois General Assembly the opportunity to provide meaningful oversight of his pandemic response, and because of that people have frankly lost confidence in his ability to handle the pandemic,” Schimpf said.
Schimpf is the first of what’s expected to be several Republicans vying for the party’s nomination. Before Schimpf’s announcement, Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy Friday said while Democrats outnumber Republicans in financing, the GOP will focus on unity. Tracy said with that momentum, he sees an opportunity to attract younger voters to what he called core Republican values of honest government, a strong economy, fiscal sanity, more school choice, equal opportunity, and safe communities.
In his announcement Monday, Schimpf touted his military service, his time as a prosecutor, and his knowledge of state government by being in the legislature.
Established party primaries for the November 2022 election are scheduled for March 15, 2022.
Image courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.
