GOP hopefuls seek support, blast Pritzker at IL gubernatorial candidate forum

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – All four Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidates have no shortage of criticism for current Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

2022 GOP nominee Darren Bailey, former Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski, businessman Rick Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick participated in a candidate forum at GAT Guns in East Dundee Monday evening.

The candidates generally avoided criticizing each other, but all four took aim at the state’s policies and governance under Pritzker.

Mendrick said Chicago, Springfield and the entire state needs emergency management.

“Crime is out of control. That’s because of the SAFE-T Act, which I vow to get rid of. Day one, SAFE-T Act is gone, executive order. We’re violating federal law. It should not be allowed. It’s causing us to spend billions,” Mendrick said.

Dabrowski said he is the most prepared to start as governor on day one.

“I don’t need to figure out what’s going on, because I’ve been doing it for the last 15 years. Two, I know the other groups talk about doing (the Department of Government Accountability). I’ve been doing DOGE for 15 years,” Dabrowski said.

On immigration enforcement, Dabrowski said Illinois should turn wanted individuals in jail over to the federal government.

Bailey explained which Pritzker-era priorities he would reverse first.

“The TRUST Act must be repealed. That’s the very reason we’re having all of these problems in our large cities. The SAFE-T-Act must be repealed. Any DEI woke initiative that applies to life or our public schools will be repealed,” Bailey said.

The 2022 GOP nominee said East Dundee was the first of 19 campaign stops he had planned over the next few days.

Heidner described how he and his brother started working when they were young. The longtime businessman said it is ridiculous that Pritzker is pushing legislation to tax law enforcement pensions.

“These people worked their whole lives. When they came to work for us and they protected us, we promised them something. They deserve it,” Heidner said.

All four candidates agreed on the importance of protecting Second Amendment rights in Illinois. Mendrick promised people in the crowd he would never take away their guns.

“Because I carry one myself,” Mendrick said.

The candidate forum was streamed live via Blue Room Stream.

The primary election is March 17. The GOP winner will face Pritzker in November.

The incumbent governor is unopposed in the Democratic Party primary.