Suburban video gambling kingpin Rick Heidner formally joined the fray for the Republican nomination for governor, as Illinois’ candidate-filing period ended Monday ahead of the primary election next March.
The paperwork from Heidner and two other suburbanites made it seven GOP candidates vying for a shot at Gov. JB Pritzker in the billionaire Democrat’s bid for a third term.
They joined a Republican primary field that already included former state Sen. Darren Bailey — who lost handily to Pritzker in the 2022 general election — plus DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick, Wirepoints researcher Ted Dabrowski and Broadview resident Gregg Moore.
Heidner signaled his run last month with a $1 million contribution to a new campaign committee. He filed Monday, as did Hazel Crest resident Max Solomon and Lake Forest resident Joseph Severino.
It’s Heidner’s first run for statewide office, but he’s no stranger to Illinois politics — or run-ins with the government.
Heidner has contributed more than $250,000 to Illinois politicians on both sides of the aisle over the past two decades, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
The owner of the Gold Rush Gaming slot machine empire that operates thousands of slot machines in bars, restaurants and other establishments statewide, Heidner has frequently butted heads with state gambling regulators under Pritzker’s administration.
The governor’s office pulled the plug on a Heidner-led proposal for a new horse racetrack and casino approved for Tinley Park after his name surfaced in 2019 federal search warrants connected to a sweeping public corruption probe that ensnared several top state lawmakers. Federal prosecutors later confirmed Heidner was not a target of their investigation.
The Sun-Times has also reported the IRS hit Heidner with a $5 million lien for past-due income taxes in 2023, and he once leased space to an illegal bingo operation.
South Side resident Patricia L. Tillman filed to be Pritzker’s lone Democratic challenger.
Turning in signatures doesn’t guarantee a spot on the March 17, 2026, primary ballot. Many of the hundreds of candidates who have filed for office statewide will face petition challenges over the next week.
Some of that culling is likely in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by retiring Sen. Dick Durbin, a race that includes Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.
Other Democrats include Chicagoan Steve Botsford Jr.; Orland Park resident Sean Brown; Springfield resident Awisi Bustos; Chicagoan Jonathan Dean; Chicagoan Adam Delgado; Bryan Maxwell of Urbana; Kevin Ryan of Chicago; Jump Shepherd of North Riverside; and Anthony Williams of Dolton.
Republicans who filed petitions for the Senate primary race include former Illinois Republican Party chair Don Tracy; Jimmy Lee Tillman II of Chicago; Pamela Denise Long of Edwardsville; Casey Chlebek of Lake Forest; and CaSándra Claiborne of Chicago.
Ten Democrats filed petitions for the 2nd Congressional District in the open seat to replace the outgoing Kelly. That included former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.; State Sen. Robert Peters; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Yumeka Brown; strategist Eric France; Cook County Board Commissioner Donna Miller; State Sen. Willie Preston; Patrick J. Keaton of Flossmoor; Toni C. Brown of Chicago Heights; Adal Regis of Chicago and Sidney Moore of Calumet City.
Ashley Moore of Clifton and Michael Scott Noack of Bonfield filed petitions in the Republican primary.
For the 7th District seat left vacant by Rep. Danny Davis’ retirement, 13 Democrats and two Republicans filed petitions. Democrats include State Rep. La Shawn Ford, whom Davis has endorsed; former Cook County Board Commissioner Richard Boykin; City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin; Anthony Driver; Jason Friedman of Chicago; Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins; Anabel Mendoza of Chicago; Jazmin J. Robinson of Chicago; Reed Showalter of Chicago; Felix Tello of Chicago; Kina Collins of Chicago; David Ehrlich of Chicago; and Thomas Fisher of Chicago. Chad Koppie of Gilberts and Patricia “P Rae” Easley of Chicago are the two Republican candidates.
In the packed open race to succeed U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the 9th District, more than a dozen Democrats filed petitions, including Kat Abughazaleh; Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss; Bushra Amiwala; State Sen. Laura Fine; State Rep. Hoan Huynh; State Sen. Mike Simmons; 50th Ward Democratic Committeeman Bruce Leon; Phil Andrew of Wilmette; Jeff Cohen of Evanston; Sam Polan of Wilmette; Patricia Brown of Evanston; Nick Pyati of Evanston; Justin Ford of Chicago; Bethany Johnson of Evanston; Mark Arnold Fredrickson of Chicago; Natalie Angelo of Park Ridge; and Howard Rosenblum of Skokie. Republican candidates include John Elleson of Arlington Heights; Paul Friedman of Chicago; Rocio Cleveland of Island Lake; and Mark Dongbo Su of Chicago.
Several incumbents will have no primary challengers, including Rep. Jonathan Jackson in the 1st District, Rep. Delia Ramirez in the 3rd District, Bill Foster in the 11th District, Rep Mike Bost in the 12th District and Rep. Lauren Underwood in the 14th District.