CHICAGO (AP) – The Latest on Illinois’ primary and the November governor’s race (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
Democrats are giddy following Illinois’ primary about their chances of reclaiming the governor’s office from a GOP incumbent who barely survived his own nomination fight.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, right, celebrates winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary with lieutenant governor candidate Juliana Stratton, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
More than 1.2 million people voted in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, a record number in more than a decade of midterms. Billionaire J.B. Pritzker won the primary for governor with almost 575,000 votes, defeating his closest rival by 20 points.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner received about 360,000 votes in a GOP primary where he eked out a win over a conservative state lawmaker.
Pritzker said Wednesday the results are an indication of how motivated Democrats are. He says the enthusiasm means he stands a good chance of beating Rauner.
Rauner isn’t going down without a fight. He criticized Pritzker in a new ad and during a campaign stop.
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1:30 a.m.
Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and billionaire Democratic businessman J.B. Pritzker spent millions attacking each other even before their 2018 matchup was set.
It was just a preview of how brutal and astronomically expensive the race for the state’s top job is expected to be. Rauner is considered one of the nation’s most vulnerable GOP incumbents up for re-election this fall, making the typically Democratic-leaning state a top target as the party seeks to regain some of the governor’s offices it lost four years ago.
Pritzker, an investor and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, easily won his primary. Rauner survived a tougher-than-expected challenge from state Rep. Jeanne Ives, who questioned his conservative credentials.
The fall candidates have combined to spend $120 million of their own money on the campaign.
Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner speaks to his supporters on primary election night, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. Rauner won the Republican nomination for a second term, and will face Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker in the general election. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, left, addresses the crowd with lieutenant governor candidate Juliana Stratton after winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary over a field of five others, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner addresses the crowd on primary election night, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. Rauner has won the Republican nomination for a second term, and will face Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker in the general election. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner addresses the crowd on primary election night, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. Rauner has won the Republican nomination for a second term, and will face Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker in the general election. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, right, celebrates winning the Democratic gubernatorial primary with lieutenant governor candidate Juliana Stratton, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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