Chicago City Wire

Gubernatorial candidate Max Solomon appeared at the Peoria and Woodford County Republican Party's Central Illinois GOP Governor Candidate Forum on April 25 to talk about becoming a U.S. citizen, and his plans as governor.

"The best day of my life was when I raised my right hand and took an oath to be a United States citizen. It was the best day of my life because I believe in this country," Solomon said. "Illinois has a spending problem and it's anchored in the pension crisis. I believe that if we fix the pension system we won't have to deal with the Democrats raising taxes all the time. That's why I came up with Constitutional Pension Reform, CPR, for Illinois."

Solomon is running on a conservative, Christian platform.

"As governor of the state of Illinois, you will have a Christian, conservative, Republican. In that order. Christian because I believe it is time to bring God back into politics. I'm a conservative because I will fight for those values and culture and beliefs that are under attack and erosion," Solomon said. "I am a conservative through and through. I believe God created life and life starts when he says so. I believe that your gender is assigned by God and you are born with it. I don't think boys should go into girls' bathrooms and I don't think girls should go into boys' bathrooms. I'm a Republican because it is the Republican party platform that supports the first two things that I am."

Solomon was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States, where he became a U.S. citizen and received an associate's degree in political science from South Suburban College of Cook County, a bachelor's degree in political science from DePaul University, and a law degree and master's degree in theology from Valparaiso University.

The primary election is scheduled for June 28. 

The Republican gubernatorial candidates have recently released their fundraising totals. Gary Rabine has raised $1.1 million since Jan. 1, Paul Schimpf has raised $79,000, Max Solomon has raised $8,500, Jesse Sullivan has raised $1.3 million, and Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) has raised $1.3 million.