Jesse Sullivan

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Jesse Sullivan

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 28, 2022

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Jesse Sullivan (Republican Party) (also known as Sully) ran for election for Governor of Illinois. He lost in the Republican primary on June 28, 2022.

Elections

2022

See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

General election

General election for Governor of Illinois

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Illinois on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		J.B. Pritzker (D)	54.9	2,253,748
		Darren Bailey (R)	42.4	1,739,095
		Scott Mitchell Schluter (L)	2.7	111,712
	Submit photo	Emily Johnson (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	28
		Shon-Tiyon Horton (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	28
	Submit photo	Elizabeth Sebesta (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	18

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,104,629
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mancow Muller (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois

Incumbent J.B. Pritzker defeated Beverly Miles in the Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		J.B. Pritzker	91.9	810,989
		Beverly Miles	8.1	71,704

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 882,693
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Illinois

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Darren Bailey	57.5	458,102
		Jesse Sullivan	15.7	125,094
		Richard Irvin	15.0	119,592
		Gary Rabine	6.5	52,194
		Paul Schimpf	4.4	34,676
		Max Solomon	0.9	7,371

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 797,029
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Keisha Smith (R)
• Christopher Roper (R)
• Cheryl Erickson (R)
• Emily Johnson (R)

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jesse Sullivan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Sullivan's campaign website stated the following:

“	CHALLENGE - HIGH TAXES Today, the “Rich States, Poor States” rankings list Illinois as 47th of 50 in the United States for its economic outlook, and the US News and World Report listed our economy as 39th of 50. Much of this is driven by a crippling tax burden on personal and corporate incomes and property, as well as a State Liability System that is the worst in the country. Our State’s budget is so out of whack that we pay over 11% of our tax revenues just to service our debt. This is the highest of any State, by far, and prevents Illinois from focusing our budgetary spending on other critical priorities to make our state competitive and our economy strong. SOLUTION - ROBUST ECONOMIC GROWTH Jesse believes there is no better way to support the aspirations and needs of Illinoisians than having a robust, growing economy that offers a path to jobs, financial security, and the ability to care for our families. As Governor, Jesse will focus on supporting small businesses and rekindling the entrepreneurial spirit in Illinois. He will reduce the barriers to starting businesses, and reduce the taxes that make it so hard to afford real estate, hire employees, and invest in growth. Our public employee pension system has created an unsustainable burden on Illinois working families, and it is in desperate need of reform. Jesse will work tirelessly to reclaim Chicago’s position as one of our nation’s financial capitals, by attracting entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, and the cryptocurrency community to the shores of Lake Michigan. CHALLENGE - CORRUPT POLITICIANS Our politics in Springfield are terrible - and our state government is broken. Faith in our government is at an all-time low; just 25% of Illinoisians have confidence in our State leadership -- that’s the worst in the nation -- and for good reason! Four of our last eleven governors are in prison for federal crimes. And our current leadership in Springfield is out of touch. Government has abandoned the citizens of Illinois by putting their own selfish interests, and their special interest backers, ahead of the people. JB Pritzker, the current governor, hasn't gone after corruption or the special interest machine that is structurally responsible for our problems -- because he is one of them, and remains under federal investigation! SOLUTION - STRONG MORAL LEADERSHIP Jesse believes it is moral leaders who fundamentally alter the course of human history. Jesse will embody what a political leader can and should be. He believes our politics should not be defined by our party alone, but by our commitment to bettering the lives of others through principled, data-based policy. We have long known that corruption runs deep in Illinois politics. And that corruption isn’t limited to any one party. For decades, Democrats and Republicans have used their positions to curry favor and enrich themselves, and everyday Illinoisans suffer Jesse is committed to his Citizens First Agenda, to take power away from corrupt politicians, and put it back in the hands of regular people. Together, we can restore Illinois to the beautiful Land of Lincoln. CHALLENGE - HIGH CRIME Crime in Illinois, especially in our cities, is devastating our families, stealing our children, harming our economy, and creating a climate of fear. 2021 was a recent record for Illinois, and confidence in the government's ability to keep us safe is declining, as is trust in the public’s trust in police. People are scared to visit, and without public safety, the flight out of Illinois will only accelerate. SOLUTION - COMPASSION WITH RESULTS Jesse has sat, listened, and worked with law enforcement around the state to build his Safe Streets Agenda. Over 20 law enforcement professionals - including over 15 active sheriffs - have joined his Safe Streets Leadership Coalition, the most of any candidate. Restoring public safety to Illinois means doing three things: 1. Enforcing our laws, 2. Defending our law enforcement heroes, and 3. Restoring accountability to the system, so that criminals are held accountable. Jesse will remain steadfast in ensuring all Illinois citizens can feel safe in their neighborhoods, homes, and businesses, and he knows that starts with an education system that lifts people up, an economy that offers a path out, and a society that supports our most vulnerable. CHALLENGE - POOR RETURN ON INVESTMENT Here in Illinois, we pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, and get some of the worst outcomes in return. Illinois faces a massive debt ($62B) with huge unfunded pension liabilities that prevent our government from investing in priorities like better education for our children, and better internet connectivity to spur economic growth downstate. An average family of four owes more in unfunded liabilities ($76,000) than they earn in household income ($63,585). People are leaving Illinois in droves, and today we are 1 of only 3 states that lost residents from 2010 - 2020. The people of Illinois are strong, but politicians have made our state weak. SOLUTION - GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE Jesse will be a governor who understands that small business is essential and that real outcomes for our people- not lobbyist opinions - must govern our State. As governor, Sully will deliver: An education system that prepares our students to work and earn a living for their families. A pension system that gives people a chance to get ahead, instead of saddling them with unfunded liabilities. A healthcare system that offers great care at affordable prices. A law enforcement and criminal justice system that keeps our streets safe. JESSE SULLIVAN'S SAFE STREETS PLAN Together, Let's End Illinois' Crime Epidemic Illinois families need a new path forward on public safety – and fresh, moral leadership to see it through. Four years of divisive, anti-police policies have ravaged our communities. To Save Illinois we have to stop the bleeding. Our plan calls for three concrete steps. Read more below. As Governor Jesse Sullivan Will Prioritize The Crime Crisis in our State on Day 1. THE SAFE STREETS PLAN: ENFORCE THE LAW. Deter crime and bring criminals to justice. PILLAR #1 - PROTECT OUR HEROES. Defend law enforcement and honor their service. PILLAR #2 - RESTORE ACCOUNTABILITY. Restore norms so criminal actions have consequences. PILLAR #3 - THE PROBLEM Illinois is facing an unprecedented crime surge under Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s leadership. Rather than acknowledging this emergency, Pritzker in 2021 signed sweeping, radical legislation making the problem worse – effectively punishing police and reducing penalties for committing crimes. Illinois is facing an epidemic of violent crime. From the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to December 2021, 12 children died of COVID-19 in Illinois largest city; 228 were murdered. In fact, more kids were shot in Chicago than died nationwide from COVID-19 in 2021. THE PLAN ENFORCE THE LAW Deter crime and bring criminals to justice. Fully staff and support State and Local Police officers, by filling every vacancy, staffing every crime lab, and deploying National Guard assets, so that law enforcement can best deter, arrest, charge, and prosecute criminals. Remove violent criminals from the streets by restoring cash bail and stringent pre-trial detention practices, ending electronic monitoring for violent offenses, and enforcing outstanding warrants. Forge multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency partnerships that get results, including with counties (e.g., DuPage’s MERIT system) and with neighboring states, which JB Pritzker cannot do. PROTECT OUR HEROES Defend law enforcement and honor their service. Relentlessly defend qualified immunity against attacks from the left, ensuring that police officers are not criminalized for doing their jobs. Increase penalties for assaulting law enforcement, including strengthening minimum sentencing guidelines and minimum time served requirements. Pay law enforcement, by introducing fair pay for sheriffs, and offering recruitment and retention incentives for officers. RESTORE ACCOUNTABILITY Restore norms so criminal actions have consequences. Take ownership and lead in the fight against crime, by appointing an Anti-Violence Director who reports directly to the governor, and taking an active role in strengthening partnerships between sheriffs, police chiefs, and prosecutors. Invest in witness protection to help convict criminals by increasing penalties for intimidating and threatening witnesses, and by providing support to local departments to establish comprehensive witness and victim protection programs. Fight recidivism by growing relationships between parole agents and law enforcement, and reprioritizing in-prison occupational training. JESSE SULLIVAN'S CLEAN UP ILLINOIS PLAN Let's end Illinois Corruption and make our state the Land of Lincoln again! For decades, Illinois politicians have used their positions to curry favor and enrich themselves, and every day Illinoisans suffer. Our Clean Up Illinois agenda is an anti-corruption roadmap that will address the most severe ethical problems facing our state. Our 10-point agenda is the strongest ethics plan released by any gubernatorial candidate, and serves as our standing commitment to #CleanUp Illinois. THE PLAN IMPLEMENT STRICT TERM LIMITS FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS Public service is an act of love for our neighbor, but it is also an act of trust. We cannot allow politicians to use their positions to enrich themselves and their friends. There is no better safeguard than a limit on how long they can hold power. SUPPORT FAIR MAPS Fight for a constitutional amendment for a fair legislative redistricting process, which would put redistricting in the hands of an independent commission rather than partisan lawmakers. PASS THE HARSHEST PUBLIC CORRUPTION PENALTIES IN THE COUNTRY Support penalty enhancements laid out in 2018’s House Bill 5878, including increasing the fine for bribery from $25,000 to $1 million; doubling the fine for receiving contributions on state property from $5,000 to $10,000; and increasing the maximum fines for engaging in prohibited political activities and improperly serving on state boards and commissions to $10,000 and $35,000 respectively. MAKE THE LEGISLATIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL A WATCHDOG, NOT A LAPDOG Illinoisans deserve the strongest legislative watchdog in the nation. The LIG should have publishing power, subpoena power, the power to proactively pursue a case rather than simply respond to filed complaints, and the jurisdiction to hold legislators accountable for any egregious actions inside or outside of their official capacity. At a minimum, the LIG should have as much power as Chicago’s Office of the Inspector General. END THE “HONOR SYSTEM” FOR CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN SPRINGFIELD Illinois law requires lawmakers to file financial disclosure statements, but not to declare when they face a conflict of interest before taking a vote. Most states require all members of the legislature to disclose conflicts of interest for each measure, and ban lawmakers from voting at all in the case of a conflict. Illinois should require the same. REFORM THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION Add a seat to the Legislative Ethics Commission for a non-legislator citizen, so that the commission cannot kill investigations into their political allies with 4-4 split votes along party lines. DROP J.B. PRITZKER’S FIGHT TO FIRE THE FEDERALLY APPOINTED HIRING MONITOR. The people of Illinois should be able to trust that we have their best interests at heart, not the interests of a special few. Our administration will end Pritzker’s fight to fire the patronage hiring monitor and ban paying any gubernatorial staff members with private money, as Pritzker does. BAN SITTING LAWMAKERS FROM COMING BEFORE THE PROPERTY TAX APPEALS BOARD AS PROPERTY TAX ATTORNEYS Lawmakers should not be able to enrich themselves through an insider appeals process that only exists because of their political malfeasance. AMEND CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAWS We must ensure no lawmaker’s firm can represent client interests before any government agency or legislative body. This ban on self-dealing would function similarly to Chicago’s “cross-lobbying ban,” which bars state lawmakers from lobbying City Council. PUT AN END TO THE REVOLVING DOOR BETWEEN LEGISLATORS AND LOBBYISTS The last “ethics reform” legislation was insufficient. Currently, a loophole allows a legislator to retire a day before the end of their term and begin lobbying their colleagues the next day. Florida has a six-year ban on legislators moving into lobbying positions. We propose a seven-year ban for Illinois, which would be the strongest in the nation. Becoming a legislator should be a form of temporary public service, not a pathway to a lucrative lobbying career. POWER TO THE PARENTS The Sullivan-Murphy Education Agenda Quality education is a powerful force for good. But for decades, politicians in charge of Illinois’ education system have put teachers’ union bosses ahead of the interests of our students. And the results are clear. The system is failing parents and endangering schoolchildren. Two-thirds of Illinois third graders do not meet grade-level standards for reading and math. Three-fourths of 11th graders in Chicago Public Schools do not meet grade-level standards for reading and math. Who is to blame for this failure? Springfield politicians like to blame taxpayers, saying they don’t pay enough into the education system. But that’s not true. Illinois spends more than $15,200 per student in our state’s highest-need school districts, known as “Tier 1” districts. That’s higher than the average per student spending on all students – not just those in need – in every other Midwestern state. And Illinois’ per student spending grew 70% from 2007-2019, the highest growth in the nation. This isn’t a problem of dollars and cents. It’s about power. The balance of power in Illinois is tilted toward radical teachers’ union bosses. This leaves parents with higher property taxes, radical curriculum, diminishing returns for their children, and no voice in education policy. The Sullivan administration will implement the most sweeping educational reform in a generation, putting parents back in the driver’s seat to get every child on the path to college or career-readiness, no matter their background. Doing so will mean acting with strength of purpose to get criminal employees out of the system, and radical curriculum out of our schools. We have a 5-point plan to restoring educational excellence in our schools, and educational accountability to our parents: Deliver parental choice by funding students, not systems Defund teachers unions Remove sexual predators from Illinois schools Remove radical curriculum from the classroom Pass the first Illinois Parents’ Bill of Rights THE PLAN DELIVER PARENTAL CHOICE BY FUNDING STUDENTS, NOT SYSTEMS Universal school choice. Education funding should follow the child. Every parent in Illinois should receive a “Backpack Scholarship” to send their child to the school that best suits their needs: whether public, private, religious or charter. Expand the Invest in Kids Opportunity Scholarship Program. Rather than allowing the program to sunset in 2023, we will expand and improve the program to meet the needs of all families seeking access to a quality education for their children. Our plan will: Streamline the donation process for investors Move from a 75% tax credit to a dollar-for-dollar tax credit Allow earmarks for corporate donors Advocate for allowing donors to deduct the contribution on federal taxes Incentivize workforce training. One of Illinois' strengths is its diversity. Our manufacturing, information technology, agriculture, and countless others require trained, highly skilled employees. Today, we do not have enough labor to fill the jobs available. Our plan will: Expand pathways to post-secondary educational success and open them up to Illinois students. We will end the days of a one-size-fits-all, top-down education system that is failing a significant portion of our students. Incentivize industry-driven, proprietary education directly related to available jobs (tying communities that need jobs to available jobs / the jobs of tomorrow). Every child who graduates high school in Illinois should have mastery over at least one skill that will lead to high-wage employment. DEFUND TEACHERS UNIONS Self-interested teachers’ union bosses in Illinois prolonged the shutdown of our schools, funded extremist politicians that have made our streets unsafe, protected sexual predators, and have harmed the noble reputation of the teaching profession. The Sullivan administration will: Ban political giving from teachers unions: Illinois teachers union bosses give millions of dollars to corrupt Illinois Democrats who sit on the other side of the bargaining table. This is a blatant conflict of interest that has cost Illinois taxpayers billions of dollars. End CTU's reign of terror by investigating and sanctioning CTU hate speech, incitement of violence, and protection of sexual predators: Under the radical leadership of the Caucus of Rank and File Educators (CORE), the CTU has openly promoted political violence, protected sexual predators, called to defund the police, and praised murderous, socialist dictatorships abroad. Our administration will investigate and sanction the group accordingly, which may include reduced funding for salaries / benefits, and revocation of lobbying privileges. PROTECT ILLINOIS SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM SEXUAL PREDATORS Gov. J.B. Pritzker has refused to provide basic, commonsense protections against sexual abuse in schools, while pushing radical gender curriculum throughout the state. The Sullivan administration will: Punish predators in schools: Make it a crime for school employees to have sexual contact with a student, regardless of the student’s age. Teachers unions, Illinois Democrats and Gov. J.B. Pritzker fought against passing a law to do this, despite rampant sexual abuse in Chicago Public Schools uncovered by Chicago Tribune reporters. Require parent notification of teacher misconduct: Even if an educator was disciplined by the state for misconduct, Illinois law prohibits ISBE from releasing records related to their misconduct, unless the educator fought against license sanctions. We will require parental notification of all findings of misconduct. Close the obscenity loophole for Illinois public schools: We will amend Illinois’ obscenity statute (720 Ill. Comp Stat. Ann, Sections 11-21(c)3) to remove the special protection given to employees of schools, museums and public libraries regarding the distribution of “harmful material” to minors. These employees should be held to the same standards as every other adult in a child’s life. Harmful material is defined as the quality of any description or representation, in whatever form, of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse, when, taken as a whole it (i) predominantly appeals to the prurient interest in sex of minors (ii) is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community in the State as a whole with respect to what is suitable for minors. END POLITICAL INDOCTRINATION IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS It doesn’t matter where you stand on the issues of sexual education and pronoun usage in school, you should know who is teaching your kids, and what they’re learning. The Sullivan administration will: Reform ISBE to focus on core education, merit and competency, not political indoctrination: Increase transparency by passing House Bill 5239, requiring school districts to accept parent or guardian requests to review curriculum and learning material throughout the school year. Forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade Appoint members of the State Board of Education who value local control, to ensure curriculum decisions are made at the local level wherever possible, rather than mandated by the state. Remove racist curriculum from Illinois schools: The Sullivan administration will affirm that no teacher, school official, or student should ever be compelled to teach or affirm any idea that violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Require curriculum transparency: We will require public schools to post all gender and sexuality education materials online for parents to be able to access. Move to parental opt-in for Comprehensive Sexual Education programs. Opt-outs only work in situations where parents know about the curriculum. Opt-in for these sensitive topics will necessitate transparency and accountability to parents. Establish an American Civics Bootcamp for teachers to replace Pritzker's CRT training: Our public education system was founded to teach students how to be productive citizens and engaged members of our representative democracy. Regrettably, in Illinois schools today, civics and American government are afterthoughts. Our administration will ensure that Illinois teachers have a proper and comprehensive understanding of American civics to teach these core principles to their students. PASS ILLINOIS’ FIRST PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS Trust and collaboration between parents, administrators and teachers is the key to student success. By bringing transparency and accountability to Illinois’ education system, we will restore that trust. The Sullivan administration will: Pass a Parents’ Bill of Rights: In the model of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Parents’ Bill of Rights, we will introduce and pass legislation establishing the government cannot infringe upon the fundamental rights of parents and legal guardians to direct the upbringing, education, healthcare, and mental health of their child. Restore Parental Notification about a Child’s Physical, Mental or Emotional Health: Our administration will ensure that a school district may not adopt procedures or student support forms that require school district personnel to withhold from a parent information about his or her student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, unless a reasonable person would believe that such disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Additionally, we will make it so that school district personnel may not discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.	”
—Jesse Sullivan

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