If we want safe families and communities, we must have an Illinois Governor who unequivocally supports our law enforcement heroes.  I will push for increased protection for our law enforcement, first responders, and corrections officers.  I will see that they have the funding and training to safely accomplish their mission.  I will also push for fundamental change to our property tax system in Illinois that threatens the financial security of families as they plan for retirement. 

Pritzker failed to protect our veterans, families, and communities. It took him two weeks to take responsibility for a COVID-19 outbreak in the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle. As a result of his inaction, 33 veterans died.  When violence was surging in Chicago and rioters and looters were spreading to the Chicago suburbs, Pritzker sided with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and demonized our police, jeopardizing public safety.

I will keep our veterans, families, and communities safe. I was taught in the military that a true leader takes responsibility instead of blaming others—I will take responsibility. I will support our law enforcement community, because they represent what’s best about America when they put their lives on the line to keep us safe. And I will work with local leaders across the political spectrum to implement common sense solutions to crime in our neighborhoods.

A true leader takes responsibility. A failed leader dodges responsibility and constantly blames others. Governor Pritzker has failed Illinois.

In 2017, during a deadly Legionnaire’s disease outbreak at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy that killed 13 veterans under Governor Bruce Rauner, then-candidate J.B. Pritzker said, “When a governor does not take charge, people die.” Yet, tragically, when a COVID-19 outbreak ravaged the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle last November, Pritzker waited two weeks to take action. In the meantime, because the state-run facility went against CDC guidelines and had not been equipped with proper PPE, the virus infected 90% of residents. Ultimately 36 veterans died in the deadliest outbreak at a state-run facility in Illinois history. How many of these heroes who honorably served our country could have been spared if Governor Pritzker had immediately taken responsibility?

This would not have happened under my watch. I was taught in the military that if you are in charge, you take responsibility. As a hands-on governor, my staff would’ve known to call me the minute the outbreak occurred. As a disengaged and out-of-touch governor, Pritzker wasn’t even called when 7 veterans died in the LaSalle home on Veterans Day. The National Guard was sent to the home and Pritzker wasn’t even aware of it.

One of the most important obligations of our government leaders is to keep our families and communities safe. But Pritzker has failed at that responsibility, too. While ice bottles full of rocks were being hurled at police officers during the riots in Chicago, Pritzker sided with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and the rioters and looters. As violence surged in the City of Chicago, with a 55% increase in homicides and shootings in 2020, Pritzker refused to call in the National Guard. And as that violence spread to the Chicago suburbs, Pritzker demonized our police and jeopardized public safety.

Illinoisans deserve better. Our veterans and families deserve better.

As your governor, I will take responsibility. I will make sure our communities are secure and hold myself personally accountable for improving the safety of our families. I will support our law enforcement community, because they represent what’s best about America when they put their lives on the line to keep us safe. And I will work with local leaders across the political spectrum to implement common sense solutions to crime in our neighborhoods.

Keeping people safe has been my lifelong calling. When I was in the military, I fought for protections for sexual assault victims and helped establish critical victims’ rights. In the Illinois legislature, I sponsored legislation to provide additional protections for our law enforcement and first responders. And as Minority Spokesman for the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I demanded our veterans be given proper medical treatment and held both Republican and Democratic administrations accountable for the avoidable tragedies in our veterans homes.

Vote for me so I can bring true leadership to the Illinois Governor’s Mansion.