(WSIL) -- A trio of Republican challengers hope to unseat Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker in the November 2022 gubernatorial election.
Pritzker on Monday to run for a second term in office, drawing ire from opponents.
Former Waterloo state senator Paul Schimpf wrote on Facebook, "Illinoisans deserve a leader with common sense who will renew our state."
A video from the Pritzker campaign aimed to highlight the administration's response to the pandemic and their 'commitment to the people of Illinois'. John Jackson of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute says the pandemic response and a rebounding economy strengthens Pritzker's case for re-election.
"He has a major advantage by being a Democrat," Jackson said. "The further into Southern Illinois you go the more Republican it gets."
On Facebook, Schaumburg businessman Gary Rabine wrote that Illinois cannot afford four more years of JB Pritzker.
"I am confident, that in 2022, we will reject him and his radical agenda that is driving our state into unacceptable insolvency and violence," Rabine's statement said.
Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) says billionaires like Pritzker don't understand working people, according to a post from his Facebook campaign.
"Our movement is growing and no amount of money will save him next November," Bailey's statement said.
But Jackson says Pritzker's wealth and approval ratings, coupled with divisiveness among Republicans makes the next gubernatorial election an uphill battle for the GOP.
"[Pritzker]'s been in the 52% to about 56% and 58% range in the polls that I've seen," Jackson said. "That's a tough position for the opposition to start out against already because that's a pretty decent approval rate to start with."
