Rauner Named “Easily the Most Vulnerable Incumbent of Either Party” by National Analyst

Governor Bruce Rauner, dealing with daily questions about the Quincy Legionnaires’ crisis and the consequences of a three-year budget crisis, earned himself a new title last week: “easily the most vulnerable incumbent of either party.” A new analysis from the Cook Political Report noted Rauner’s precarious position in relation to his peers:

“There are seven seats in the Toss Up column, including incumbent Govs. Bruce Rauner in Illinois and Kim Reynolds in Iowa. Rauner is easily the most vulnerable incumbent of either party, but his significant personal resources make it hard to put him in the Lean Democrat column, at least for now.”

Last year, the Cook Political Report moved the Illinois race from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up.” Since then, Rauner just barely survived a primary challenge and saw his approval ratings drop to President Donald Trump’s level.
“After looking at Bruce Rauner’s failed record in full, it’s easy to understand why he’s the nation’s most vulnerable incumbent,” said DGA Illinois Communications Director Sam Salustro. “Rauner is easily leaving the state in worse shape after forcing Illinois into a three-year budget crisis that devastated the state’s higher education system and drove up debt.”