Rauner Revs Up For 2018 Election, Rides Motorcycle In Campaign Ad

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Governor Bruce Rauner announced Monday that he will run for re-election in 2018, hoping to disprove the frustrated constituents who refer to him as "one-term Rauner." Rauner announced his bid in a YouTube video in which he rides a motorcycle throughout Illinois while wearing a leather vest with a patch emblazoned with the word "governor," just in case you forgot that he's the incumbent. And, yes, he's going the speed limit.

In the video, Rauner takes aim at "a corrupt culture of permanent political failure" in Illinois and vows to right the wrongs he says have been perpetuated by "the Madigan machine." He mentions the state's struggles with education, criminal justice and property taxes, acknowledging that, "We've won some and we've lost some."

As an incumbent, Rauner does have an advantage, but he recently put his chances for re-election on shaky ground after signing a bill permitting Illinois to use public funds for abortions. After the bill was signed into law, many Patch readers reacted by posting comments that called the law "a huge failure for Illinois" and saying that "unless he declares as a Democrat, Rauner is done."

That's the challenge Rauner is facing as the far-right in Illinois scrambles to find an opponent to defeat him in the primaries. Rep. Jeannie Ives (R-Wheaton) may be their best chance. Ives said in a WJPF radio interview that she was "exploring" the possibility of running for governor in 2018. In that same interview, the socially conservative Ives called the abortion law "morally reprehensible." She also said she did not "see [Rauner] being elected in 2018."

>>Image via YouTube, Bruce Rauner