Political strategist Chris Robling is questioning the absence of Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin in an upcoming GOP gubernatorial forum.
“Lame — unless he or a family member is deathly ill,” Robling told Chicago City Wire.
Irvin is notably not among those listed to take part in the Central Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Forum to be held at Five Points Washington.
"The candidates who will be attending this forum are Senator Darren Bailey, Gary Rabine, Paul Schimpf, Jesse Sullivan, and Max Solomon,” an announcement by organizers reads.
Conservatives have been critical of Irvin's campaign, pointing to his prior support for Democrats, SE Illinois News previously reported. Bailey had a few words for Irvin in particular. Bailey, for one, said he suspects "Irvin will be very popular among the establishment and weak-kneed Republicans who voted with Madigan and Pritzker to raise your taxes." Bailey's comment came after when Irvin announced his entrance into the race.
State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Pawnee) is Irvin's running companion for lieutenant governor. In May 2020, Bourne cursed Bailey for refusing to wear a mask on the Senate floor. "Through fake tears, she screamed at the entire House Republican Caucus to just 'wear our masks,' screaming specifically at me 'just put on your ***king mask,’" Bailey wrote of the incident, SE Illinois News reported.
For supporting Gov. J.B. Pritzker's COVID mandates, Irvin and Bourne have been dubbed "Madigan's favorite Republicans," Dupage Policy Journal reported. They have been compared with Bailey who challenged the mask mandate and was praised by some to have the courage to do so. Bailey earlier made clear that he 'doesn't apologize 'for doing everything he can to fight for the working families of Illinois, for standing up for freedoms, and for doing what is right to uphold law and order in Illinois.'
A billionaire, Ken Griffin, is backing Irvin's candidacy. Jim Durkin, the Illinois House of Representatives minority leader, has endorsed him.
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