South West Illinois News

“Our state needs common-sense conservative leadership that we can trust,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf said at the Peoria and Woodford County Republican Party's Central Illinois GOP Governor Candidate Forum April 25.

Schimpf used to represent House District 58.

The primary election is scheduled for June 28.

KPVI reported the Tazewell County Republicans hosted its Central Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Forum where Schimpf and other candidates spoke about crime, COVID-19 policies, and education, to name a few topics.

“(Governor) J.B. Pritzker is a threat to the health of our state,” Schimpf said. “He is a threat to our children's future and we have to beat Pritzker.”

"I have a legislative record that nobody else has,” Schimpf said. “I voted against every tax increase, I voted pro-life, voted for a strong Second Amendment and parental control. I'm the only one on this stage who has won an election against a major Democrat while being outspent.”

Schimpf participated in the Marine Corps Law Education Program and attended Southern Illinois University School of Law.

“I worked on the Saddam Hussein trial when I was in Iraq,” Schimpf said. “Once you’ve worked with the ace of spades in Baghdad, you’re just really not intimidated by the Pritzker Administration, the Madigans, any of that stuff.”

Schimpf faces formidable opponents in the primary.

Businessman Gary Rabine has raised $1.1 million since Jan. 1, attorney Schimpf has raised $79,000, attorney Max Solomon has raised $8,500, Army veteran Jesse Sullivan has raised $1.3 million and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) has raised $1.3 million.

The State Journal-Register reported two Republicans were pulled from the Republican ballot. Keisha Smith’s name was removed because she didn’t list a  lieutenant governor candidate on her filing paperwork, and Emily Johnson, and her running mate, Brett Mahlen, were removed because the election board had issues with their petition sheets.