State Treasurer Mike Frerichs' recent endorsement of Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker has drawn concern from the state's Republican Party.
Frerichs endorsed the venture capitalist during a Nov. 15 news conference in Champaign-Urbana, Peoria Public Radio reported.
The Illinois Republican Party then sent out a news release that outlined how the party believes Frerichs was backing the favored candidate of House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). That, the news release alleged, stemmed from Frerichs' support of Madigan over the years, from voting in 2011 in favor of a redistricting bill that the state GOP called gerrymandering as well as a bill that amended the state income tax act. The latter was called a tax hike by the GOP.
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs
"With yet another Madigan ally lining up behind Pritzker, it is clear that the Madigan Machine will stop at nothing to secure the nomination for Pritzker,” Illinois Republican Party spokesman Aaron DeGroot said in the news release. “Mike Frerichs has repeatedly stood with Madigan to gerrymander legislative maps and hike taxes on Illinois families. Now, Frerichs plans to do the same with J.B. Pritzker, Mike Madigan's handpicked candidate for governor."
During the news conference, Frerichs said that a change is needed from current Gov. Bruce Rauner, whom he claimed has let Illinois falter.
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