By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – A second Republican lawmaker from Central Illinois is stopping short of endorsing Illinois GOP Governor Bruce Rauner for reelection after Rauner signed a bill expanding state funding for abortions.
State Representative Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) recently side-stepped the question, and State Senator Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) said questions about an endorsement amount to a fishing expedition.
Barickman told WJBC’s Sam Wood it would take a tremendous grass roots effort to mount a primary challenge.
“Even if Bruce Rauner is the only candidate for governor, I think there will be some Republicans who find that difficult,” he said. “This is the interfamily debate that’s kind of going on within the Republican party right now and it’s going to play out,”
Barickman wished Rauner would have vetoed the bill because of the cost, and the Senator appeared to dodge the question of whether he will support Rauner for reelection or back a primary challenger.
“The reality is me – and any other Republican – are going to look at the field of prospective candidates for governor. We’re going to know what that field looks like here in just a few short weeks and I think we’re going to make our decisions based on [the candidates,]” he said.
This late in the game, Barickman said it would take a tremendous effort to gather the necessary signatures to get on the ballot and run an effective campaign.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
