'Racist, Sexist, Homophobic' Jeanne Ives TV Ad Provokes Backlash

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Wheaton Republican seeking to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner in the upcoming primary is standing by her provocative new ad. State Rep. Jeanne Ives, a third-term state lawmaker, is challenging the governor from the right and accuses him of abandoning social conservatives after taking office. Her new television spot has been criticized from both sides of the aisle as are racist, transphobic and misleading.

The ad, "Thank You, Bruce Rauner", references a widely aired Rauner campaign ad that features Republican governors from Illinois' neighbors thanking House Speaker Mike Madigan for benefiting their states. Ives' ad features actors portraying what her campaign described as Rauner's "chosen constituents," including a masked protester, a transgender woman, a woman with a pink hat and a member of the Chicago Teachers Union.

"Thank you, Bruce Rauner for opposing law enforcement and making Illinois a sanctuary state for illegal immigrant criminals," says a man in a black hoodie with his face covered by a bandana.

"Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girl’s bathroom," says an actor wearing a dress.

"Thank you for making all Illinois families pay for my abortions," says an actor wearing a pink hat in the style worn at recent women's marches.

Ives' campaign described the ad as a "fair and accurate representation of the implications" of Rauner's policies. However, the bill numbers that flash on screen during the ad do not completely correspond with the laws that actually passed.

For instance, the legislation signed by Rauner was not directly related to bathrooms – it removed the requirement for people to provide proof of gender reassignment surgery to modify their birth certificate.

The "sanctuary state" bill referenced in the ad stops police from arresting someone for their immigration status alone but also instructs police to cooperate with any immigrant enforcement actions when there is a warrant signed by a federal judge.

And the pink hat-wearing demonstrator who thanks taxpayers for paying for her "abortions" would have to be covered by Medicaid or state employee health insurance to benefit from the bill. Rauner's decision to sign HB 40 pushed Ives to challenge him in the primary, she has said. He had previously suggested he would veto the bill – she accused him of lying to a cardinal about it.

"Thank you for making the rest of Illinois bailout Chicago teachers' pensions, and for giving Rahm everything he wanted, and more," says a woman in a Chicago Teachers Union shirt. A union spokesperson told the Tribune it would not "dignify this racist, sexist, homophobic piece of crap with a response.”

Criticism of the ad from both parties came swiftly.

The head of state GOP said it was not reflective of citizens of the state.

"There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity," said Illinois Republican Party chairman Tim Schneider. "She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division."

Various Democratic candidates called the ad "appalling," "poison," "repulsive," "bigoted," and "hateful."

The ad revealed the Ives "we have known for years," said former Republican state chairman Pat Brady. "There is no room in the Republican Party for racist, bigoted, homophobic candidates like her."

Erika Harold, a Republican candidate for attorney general, also called on the Ives campaign to pull the ad.

“This ad denigrates, mocks and marginalizes groups of Illinoisans and cannot represent our Republican Party," she said. "The Republican Party must be about fighting for the ideals and values that have made our country the envy of the world and promoting the dignity and value of every Illinoisan."

Ives' campaign brushed off the criticism, pointing out the state party is heavily reliant on Rauner's personal wealth.

“Rauner betrayed Illinois conservatives. He and his paid-for mouthpieces don’t like his betrayals being illustrated and his radical left-wing social agenda being exposed,” Ives campaign spokesperson Kathleen Murphy told the Associated Press.

“Rauner is the one who owes Illinois families in general and conservatives in particular an apology," she said, accusing Rauner of abandoning Republicans in the General Assembly to advance a "leftist policy agenda."

Rauner, who has previously described his primary opponent as a "fringe" candidate and declined to debate her, said the ad was shameful and "shows how unelectable Jeanne Ives really is," WGLT-FM reported. He said she has "associated herself with questionable individuals" that don't represent the views of Ilinoisans.

At least one member of the state GOP's central committee is standing by the ad, according to Politico.

“In an age of ambiguity in politics, it’s a clear, unambiguous message about what Rauner stands for,” said 16th District Committeeman John McGlasson, an Ives supporter. “Everything in the video is correct.”

Following the release of the ad, the Ives campaign announced a $2 million donation from Lake Forest businessman Dick Uihlein. The insurgent primary campaign now boasts more than $3.5 million in funds raised in a few weeks of campaigning ahead of the the March 20.

The campaign said the money will allow Ives to "introduce herself to the GOP primary electorate and present a clear choice for those voters between the crony bailouts and extreme Left social policy agenda of Gov. Rauner’s and the conservative reform policy record and vision of Ives."

The Ives campaign ran a less controversial biographical-style ad during the Super Bowl broadcast on Sunday.

On Monday, Ives defended the ad in an appearance at the Chicago City Club. She described the commercial as a "policy ad" about the "constituencies Rauner has chosen to serve" and questioned why anyone would find the ad so offensive.

"That's exactly what a transgender man looks like," she said. "With all due respect, I know. I’ve had them show up at my door.”

Watch the full 1:00 version of the video below.