ILLINOIS
     Nov. 6, 2018 Governor

Gov.
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+JB Pritzker (D)
2,479,746
54.53%
Bruce Rauner (R) i
1,765,751
38.83%
William "Sam" McCann (C)
192,527
4.23%
Grayson Kash Jackson (L)
109,518
2.41%
write-ins (9)
115


4,547,657

Registration: 8,099,372.  Ballots cast: 4,635,541.
Plurality: 713,995 votes (15.70 percentage points)

  IL State Board of Elections




DEMOCRATIC PICK UP
Notes:
  Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) was one of the most unpopular governors in the country and from the outset it was clear he would face a very steep challenge in his effort to win a second term.   Billionaire JB Pritzker (D), heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune, defeated Rauner, who had made his fortune in private equity, in what proved to be one of the most expensive governor's races in American history, with total spending of over $200 million. 

The primaries were held on March 20.  Rauner had alienated conservatives to the extent that
in Dec. 2017 National Review magazine featured him on its cover as "The Worst Republican Governor in America."  Rauner survived a close primary, defeating state Rep. Jeanne Ives by 51.4% to 48.6%.  For Democrats, Pritzker won the primary with 45.2% of the vote, followed by state Sen. Daniel Biss (26.6%) and Chris Kennedy (24.3%).

On April 19, 2018 State Sen. Sam McCann (R-Plainview) announced he would run under the banner of the newly formed Conservative Party.  Also on the November ballot was Libertarian Kash Jackson.

The four candidates participated in a forum hosted by WMAQ-TV NBC 5 and Telemundo in Chicago on Sept. 20 (>).  Rauner and Pritzker subsequently participated in three head-to-head debates: from WLS-TV ABC 7 studios in Chicago on Oct. 3 (>), before the Sun-Times editorial board on Oct. 9 (>), and from WGEM 25 News in Quincy on Oct. 11 (>).

In the fundraising race, Pritzer far surpassed Rauner.  According to the National Institute on Money in Politics, Pritzker's campaign reported $149.0 million in contributions of which Pritzker contributed $146.5 million; by comparison the Rauner campaign reported contributions of $85.7 million much from Rauner (1, 2).


Campaign Managers:
Bruce Rauner: 
Betsey Ankney
(reported Aug. 2017)  Campaign manager on U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's 2016 re-election in Wisconsin from June 2013 (AAPC campaign manager of the year for 2016).  Deputy political director for operations at the RNC for the Fall 2012 campaign from June 2012.  Associate at Collins Anderson Philp Public Affairs, May 2011-May 2012.  Political fundraising consultant (Epiphany Productions), organized the NRCC March Dinner, Jan.-April 2011.  A regional political coordinator at the RNC, June 2009-Jan. 2011.  Assistant to the president and CEO at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Jan.-Sept. 2008.  B.A. in political science and business from Vanderbilt University, 2009.

JB Pritzker:  Anne Caprara
(Mar. 2017)  Senior advisor (Jan.-Mar. 2017) and executive director (June 2015-Jan. 2017) at Priorities USA.  Vice president of campaigns at EMILY's List, Feb.-May 2015.  Political director (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2014) and deputy political director (May 2011-Jan. 2013) at the DSCC.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey (CO), Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011, after managing her campaign.  Transition director and chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton (OH), Nov. 2006-May 2007.  Research tracker, then deputy research director at EMILY's List, 2003-06.  Business development assistant at Cassidy & Associates, 2001-03.  M.A. in political management from The George Washington University, 2003; B.A. in C.L.E.G. from American University, 2001.



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