Richard Irvin “Certain to Face Bruising Attacks” in Illinois GOP Primary

Richard Irvin made an “anticlimactic” entrance to the GOP primary for governor this week and was immediately slammed by a new DGA video and attacks from his Republican opponents for his support of Gov. JB Pritzker.

With the expected backing of billionaire Ken Griffin, Irvin is running on a return to Bruce Rauner’s disastrous governorship. He faces an uphill battle against a crowded field of Republicans who are sure to drag him to the far-right.

Here’s what people are saying about Irvin’s candidacy:

• Associated Press: “He’s certain to face bruising attacks during the primary campaign … the Democratic Governors’ Association released a video showing Irvin praising Pritzker’s ‘professionalism and compassion’ in shepherding the state through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

• Chicago Tribune: “Irvin’s opponents immediately questioned the newest entrant’s Republican credentials, noting he voted in Democratic primaries in 2014, 2016 and 2020.”

• Daily Herald: “One issue likely to come up in the primary is that Irvin pulled Democratic ballots in the 2014, 2016 and 2020 election primaries and in the 2017 and 2021 consolidated election primaries.”

• Politico: “Irvin could need help to navigate a crowded June GOP primary. The contest could be determined by a Republican base that wants a candidate farther to the political right of the Aurora mayor.”

• Chicago Sun-Times: “If Irvin and Bourne are pushed to the hard right in a primary, it could haunt them when they take on Pritzker and seek votes from suburban women.”

• WCIA: “Irvin told a local news outlet, ‘I support Black Lives Matter strongly and passionately.’ This year, now that he’s running for governor in a Republican primary, Irvin repeated critics of the Black Lives Matter movement who often retort, ‘I believe All Lives Matter.’”

• Politico: “Irvin’s announcement was anticlimactic … That allowed him to avoid questions from the media like ‘Did you vote for Donald Trump?’ That will be a talking point in a competitive GOP primary.”

• Daily Herald Opinion: “As a resident of Aurora, I’m disappointed to see that Mayor Irvin is considering compromising his values for a blank check from Ken Griffin, the mega-billionaire who brought us one of the worst governors in Illinois history.”

“It’s only day three of his campaign, and Richard Irvin is already being slammed by Illinoisans — including those in his own party,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Irvin has done a complete 180 from praising Gov. JB Pritzker to running a Rauner reboot campaign. Even if Irvin survives the bruising GOP primary, he won’t stand a chance against Gov. Pritzker, who Irvin himself agreed is ‘a great leader.’”

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