Ex-Western Springs GOP Lawmaker Endorses Pritzker

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Former state Rep. Jim Durkin, a Western Springs Republican, has endorsed Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker for a third term.

Durkin, who retired in 2023 after 24 years in the House, led his chamber's Republicans for a decade.

On Monday, Pritzker's campaign posted a video of Durkin, who said he could not support Pritzker's Republican opponent, Darren Bailey, a former state lawmaker.

"Bailey stands for exclusion over inclusion, and his politics are of subtraction over addition. His policies don't work for me nor the Republican Party I know," Durkin said. "He's never accomplished anything for Illinois, and he's not cut out for the job. Frankly, he can't be trusted to lead our state."

Durkin said he doesn't agree with Pritzker on everything, but called him a good person. He said Pritzker has delivered on "common-sense" gun regulation, 12 credit upgrades and infrastructure investments.

Durkin told the Chicago Tribune that Bailey's opposition to abortion rights and gay rights turned off suburban voters in Bailey's first bid against Pritzker in 2022.

"He can't hide from his past and who he is," Durkin told the Tribune. "He is a right-wing evangelist, and he is part of this MAGA fever that has gotten into the party. And this party needs to break that fever like a virus."

In a webcast, Bailey's running mate, Aaron Del Mar, called Durkin a RINO, a derogatory acronym for "Republican in Name Only," according to the Tribune.

Del Mar said Durkin has no business being involved with Republicans.

President Donald Trump endorsed Bailey.