Chicago City Wire

Former National Republican Committeeman Richard Porter was spotted recently in the front row of a Cubs game with gubernatorial hopeful Richard Irvin. 

"I’m watching the Cubs vs. White Sox game on tv, that’s Richard Irvin and Richard Porter in the front row," Mark Weyermuller posted on Facebook. "What do you have to say about that?" 

Porter represented Illinois in 2016 when former President Donald Trump was nominated and ultimately won the presidency. He was noted as an early hopeful in the GOP race for governor but ultimately chose not to enter the race. In an interview at the time, Porter, a Chicago-based attorney with Kirkland and Ellis LLP, said "I think it would be a great adventure," the Prairie State Wire reported.  

It appears he is along for the adventure to some degree now after being spotted with Irvin at his side. The party’s nominee will be selected in a June 28 primary. The winner will face Democrat J.B. Pritzker, who is seeking reelection after a disastrous first term in office. 

Porter was an appointee from 1989 to 1993 in Washington, D.C. where he held a variety of positions in former President George H.W. Bush’s white houses. From 1989 to 1990, he was an appointee to the Treasury Department. He was later the vice president of the United States' special assistant and the executive secretary of the Domestic Policy Council from 1990 to 1991. From 1992 to 1993, he was a counselor to the vice president, according to ballotpedia.org.

In contrast, Irvin has received criticism for his long history of voting for Democrats. Irvin was exposed for supporting Black Lives Matter after the looting and violence in Aurora, according to the Prairie State Wire. "I support Black Lives Matter strongly and passionately," Irvin is quoted as saying.

At a recent event, Irvin revealed why he supported Black Lives Matter despite the organization's role in the destruction of his town. "Somebody went up to him and asked him about BLM. You know, 'Why are you supporting BLM?" Chicago Morning Answer co-host Amy Jacobson said. "(Irvin) said he supported BLM publicly to save the city from more looting," the Chicago City Wire reported.

The Aurora mayor is accused of "rigging" a Republican primary straw poll in Lake County by busing in unknowing senior citizens connected to a political operative, Lake County Gazettereported.