Gov. Bruce Rauner Releases 1st TV Ad Against Rep. Jeanne Ives

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Governor Bruce Rauner released a new campaign commercial Tuesday aimed at his primary opponent Rep. Jeanne Ives, the week after she made national headlines with a controversial television ad targeting him for betraying the Republican base. The governor's statewide ad accuses the conservative challenger from Wheaton of voting for higher taxes and defending Rauner's arch-nemesis, House Speaker Mike Madigan.

The ad says Ives "took thousands from a shady labor union" tied to Madigan and voted against an increase to property tax exemption.

"Jeanne Ives might just be Mike Madigan’s favorite Republican and Illinois’ worst nightmare," the spot concludes.

Rauner's campaign promised to "continue highlighting JB Pritzker's record and we're able to walk and chew gum at the same time," referencing the fact the incumbent governor is now running negative advertisements in both the Democratic and Republican party primaries.

"Representative Ives has already proven herself to be a completely unelectable candidate in the general election, and we're going to make sure Republicans know how wrong she is on the issues of taxes and failing to fight the status quo," a spokesperson told WMAQ.

The Ives campaign responded by saying she had a stronger record of taking on Madigan, saying she prevented a scheme by the Speaker to skip three years of pension payments. Rauner, is an "unrepentant liar," the campaign said in a news release.

“Rauner has been completely ineffective – other than the TV ads and press releases he hides behind – in attempting to actually pass something," said Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) in the release. "He could be the most ineffective politician in the country.”

The governor has not agreed to any debates with Ives.