• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Muddy River Sports
  • Podcasts
    • State of Play with David Adam
    • Muddy River Minute
  • Muddy River TV+
  • Support Muddy River News
  • Newsletter

Muddy River News

Our Home. Our News.

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Politics
  • Muddy River Vibe
  • Blotter
  • Business
  • Local Matters
  • Markets & Ag
  • Opinion
  • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Shop
Home » News » Irvin tops Illinois GOP governor poll as candidates spar through ads

Irvin tops Illinois GOP governor poll as candidates spar through ads

May 11, 2022 — by Greg Bishop, The Center Square

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin

(The Center Square) – Three of the six candidates running in the June 28 primary for Illinois governor – those with the most campaign contributions – are sparring in the media as a recent poll indicates it’s really a two-way race.

Incumbent Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has $87 million in political funds, according to campaign finance data compiled by IllinoisSunshine.org. Democratic challenger Beverly Miles has $260.

For the Republicans, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin has the most money of all six GOP candidates, with $36 million. He was called out last week by the third place money holder, state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, who has $3.4 million.

“I also hear my top competitor in this primary sent a press release today from his basement because he’s a coward,” Bailey said during a news conference. “He’s too afraid to face the public.”

Irvin held his first news conference Monday about a report of Pritzker’s handling of a COVID-19 outbreak at a veterans’ home that killed 36 in 2020. Media peppered Irvin with off-topic questions about abortion, former President Donald Trump and the primary. Irvin said Bailey is a hypocrite and entrepreneur Jesse Sullivan, who has the second most money of the GOP candidates at $8.1 million, is not honest about his service overseas.

“As a veteran of the United States Army, I’m offended that somebody would pretend that they served our country,” Irvin said. “He [also] advocates and supports open borders.”

Sullivan, who said he was a civilian contractor for the Department of Defense in Afghanistan, fired back with a campaign ad featuring veterans.

“He was essential to our mission,” retired Air Force Master Sergeant Shawn Miller said.

“I know, because I served with him, shoulder-to-shoulder,” Army veteran Michael Mitchell said.

A narrator in the ad says, “this is dirty politics, at its worst.”

On the issue of the border, Sullivan’s campaign said Irvin has his source wrong and Sullivan supports enforcing federal immigration laws and does not support so-called “sanctuary cities” that embrace illegal immigrants.

Other candidates in the GOP primary for Illinois governor are former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, businessman Gary Rabine and attorney Max Solomon.

Schimpf’s campaign put out a statement expressing concern “regarding the destructive nature of primary elections and stated there must be an end to the internal party bickering that divides the party and keeps voters at bay.

“Illinois needs a governor who will listen, learn, and lead us in a way that unites and recognizes that the strength of Illinois is its people, not its government,” Schimpf, R-Waterloo, said.

In a recent poll conducted by Cor Strategies, Irvin leads with Bailey in second. Collin Corbett with Cor Strategies said the more a candidate gets their message out, the better they seem to poll.

“That’s why you see that the candidate in the lead is in the lead because they’re putting a lot of time and effort and mostly money into pushing their message right in front of voters,” Corbett told WMAY.

The poll of likely Republican voters was conducted from Apr. 29 to May 2, and was nearly split between men and women across all age ranges. About 17% of those polled were from Cook County, 28% from the Chicago suburbs and 55% from the rest of the state.

Irvin received 33% support overall in the poll. Bailey captured 21%. Sullivan has 10% support. Everyone else was in single digits.

Cor Strategies’ poll also reviewed favorability in various regions of the state.

“Gary Rabine is doing a little better in the suburbs, even Jesse Sullivan’s doing decent in the suburbs, but really it still comes down to Irvin and Bailey,” Corbett said. “It really does look like it’s going to be those two fighting for first and second.”

Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?

Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.

Purchase Story
close

Do you want to receive the Muddy River News newsletter in your inbox every morning? Send us your email address, click "Subscribe" and don't forget to check your email to confirm your FREE subscription.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Filed Under: Illinois Politics, Politics Tagged With: Darren Bailey, Gary Rabine, Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois Governors race, Paul Schimpf

Primary Sidebar

MRN THIS WEEK: Terry Traeder, Quincy Grand Prix

https://youtu.be/6SkdocEvhCI
View Complete Forecast

Trending Posts This Week

  • Assistant coach on state championship basketball team arrested, charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse
    QUINCY — An assistant coach on Quincy Notre Dame’s girls basketball state championship team was arrested Thursday and is lodged...
  • Adams County grand jury indicts Lawrence, who now faces two charges of theft from 2x4s for Hope
    Mark Lawrence made his first appearance in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday morning after he was arrested on two...
  • Former Army Reserve Training Center demolished; property owner planning construction of strip mall
    QUINCY — Call it the “Target Effect.” Demolition of the former Lincoln-Douglas U.S. Army Reserve Training Center at 601 N....
  • Dumpster-diving New London man arrested for damaging multiple vehicles at Hannibal movie theater
    As the police were being called to the scene, Gilbert jumped into a dumpster. Officers contacted Gilbert and he exited the...
  • Quincy woman charged with drug-induced homicide backs out of plea deal, wants case to go to trial
    QUINCY — Caitlin Dietiker, a Quincy woman accused of supplying fentanyl to a 21-year-old woman who died of an overdose,...

Follow Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Our Most Recent Podcasts

  • BOOK NOOK: Libations for the Library May 18, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 26, 2022 April 26, 2022
  • Book Nook for April 19, 2022 April 19, 2022
  • DOB and the BBB: April 7, 2022 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: April 6, 2020 April 7, 2022
  • Book Nook: Quincy Public Library for March 22 March 22, 2022
  • Book Nook for March 9, 2022 March 9, 2022
  • Muddy River Minute: Steve Eighinger February 23, 2022
  • Quincy Public Library Book Nook for February 23 February 23, 2022
  • Muddy River Minute: Book Nook for February 16, 2020 February 16, 2022

More Top Stories

Assistant coach on state championship basketball team arrested, charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse

by Muddy River News

QUINCY — An assistant coach on Quincy Notre Dame’s girls basketball state championship team was arrested Thursday and is lodged in the Adams County Jail on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. The Quincy Police Department began an investigation involving a possible inappropriate … ...Read Full Article about Assistant coach on state championship basketball team arrested, charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse

‘We wanted somebody who really had touched all of Quincy’: Scholz to receive Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds award Friday

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — It’s probably easier to list all of the community activities Chuck Scholz hasn’t participated in and all of the awards he hasn’t been given. Scholz, 68, is best known for his three-term stint as the mayor of Quincy from 1993-2005, but he’s been a board member, trustee, chairman or … ...Read Full Article about ‘We wanted somebody who really had touched all of Quincy’: Scholz to receive Exchange Club’s Golden Deeds award Friday

Mount Sterling man facing federal drug charges; jury trial to begin July 5 in Springfield

by Muddy River News

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — A Mount Sterling man recently was indicted on federal drug charges. Agents with the West Central Illinois Drug Task Force, in conjunction with a SWAT team with the Illinois State Police and sworn personnel from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant … ...Read Full Article about Mount Sterling man facing federal drug charges; jury trial to begin July 5 in Springfield

Calftown building where 2008 fatal fire occurred hit again by fire

by J. Robert Gough, Publisher

QUINCY —  A building on the northeast corner of Seventh and State, where three people died in a fire in 2008 and a man was convicted for setting the fire and murdering them, was ablaze again Wednesday night. Quincy Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp said the call came in at 5:48 p.m. Wednesday, and … ...Read Full Article about Calftown building where 2008 fatal fire occurred hit again by fire

Yohn says he will ‘most definitely’ be ready to defend himself when his trial begins June 21

by David Adam, MRN Editor

QUINCY — When Judge Roger Thomson asked Bradley Yohn if he would be ready for the first day of his trial on June 21, Yohn replied, “Oh, yes sir, most definitely.” Yohn is defending himself Pro Se against charges of carjacking and home invasion in Adams County filed in November 2021. He appeared … ...Read Full Article about Yohn says he will ‘most definitely’ be ready to defend himself when his trial begins June 21

Footer

Coverage Area

Muddy River News LLC
535 Maine, Suite 4A
Quincy, IL 62301

Have a Story or News Tips? Contact Us!

Phone: (217) 577-8044
Email: news@muddyrivernews.com

Copyright © 2022 • Muddy River News LLC • All Rights Reserved • Privacy Policy