GOP Infighting: Former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar Slams Extreme, Unpopular GOP Primary Field as Unelectable

In an interview this weekend, former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar delivered a massive blow to the current Illinois GOP primary field, warning that the candidates are too far-right to win against Gov. JB Pritzker in the general election.

“I think it’s gonna be extremely difficult for somebody that is viewed is a strong Trump type to be able to win a general election in Illinois for governor,” Edgar said. He also suggested that the eventual nominee’s extremism could “scare the people in the middle.”

Current GOP candidates Jesse Sullivan, Gary Rabine, Darren Bailey, and Paul Schimpf are all running on radical anti-science, anti-choice platforms that are completely out of touch with Illinois values.

Edgar knows the Republican nominee will be unelectable against strong incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker, whose pandemic response he defended in the interview. Gov. Pritzker has navigated Illinois through the pandemic to save lives and put the state back on a firm fiscal footing and championed the right to choose.

“Republican leadership is sounding the alarm on the Illinois GOP primary because all of their candidates are too extreme for Illinois,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “As the Republican candidates drag each other further to the right, they’re becoming increasingly out-of-touch with Illinois values. Even members of the GOP know their unpopular agendas don’t stand a chance against Gov. JB Pritzker.”

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