Rick Heidner
Rick Heidner (Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Illinois. He lost in the Republican primary on March 17, 2026.
Biography
Rick Heidner's career experience includes working as an entrepreneur and businessman.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 17 Republican primary)
Illinois gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 (March 17 Democratic primary)
General election
The candidate list in this election may not be complete.
General election for Governor of Illinois
Incumbent J.B. Pritzker, Darren Bailey, and Gary Pierce are running in the general election for Governor of Illinois on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | J.B. Pritzker (D) | |
 | Darren Bailey (R) | |
 | Gary Pierce (Independence Party)  | |
| ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois
Incumbent J.B. Pritzker advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | J.B. Pritzker |
| ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Illinois
Darren Bailey defeated Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick, and Rick Heidner in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois on March 17, 2026.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Darren Bailey | 53.5 | 281,431 |
 | Ted Dabrowski | 28.7 | 151,101 | |
 | James Mendrick | 9.7 | 51,058 | |
 | Rick Heidner | 8.1 | 42,514 | |
| Total votes: 526,104 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Joseph Severino (R)
- Max Solomon (R)
- Gregg Moore (R)
Campaign finance
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rick Heidner did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Heidner's campaign website stated the following:
ILLINOISANS FIRST
GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERVE ITS RESIDENTS—NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
Under Governor Pritzker, Illinois has become the state of take. Working families struggle while the well-connected thrive. Seniors are forced out of homes they've had for decades because they can no longer afford the property taxes. Veterans who sacrificed for our country get bureaucratic runarounds instead of the care they've earned. And over 420,000 residents have fled since 2020—voting with their feet against a government that's abandoned them.
Meanwhile, Pritzker spent millions getting elected Governor, only to spend his time running for President instead of running our state.
Rick Heidner will put Illinoisans first. He wants to make Illinois the state of opportunity—because if our government won't stand up for us, who will?
TERM LIMITS
NO LIFETIME POLITICIANS. IT'S TIME FOR CITIZEN LEADERS.
Governor Pritzker spent over $150 million of his own money to get elected—twice. Now he's using the office as a launching pad to run for President, jetting around the country while Illinois struggles with record taxes, rising crime, and fleeing residents.
Illinois doesn't need a king. It needs a Governor focused on Illinois.
Rick Heidner supports term limits for Governor—two terms, then go home. No more treating our state as a steppingstone. No more politicians who view public office as a permanent entitlement.
Illinois is one of only four states where residents can't even put term limits on the ballot. The career politicians wrote the rules to protect themselves. Rick will fight to change that—because government should be about service, not self-promotion.
LOWER TAXES
ILLINOIS FAMILIES DESERVE RELIEF—NOT ANOTHER TAX INCREASE.
Illinois is the state of take. Governor Pritzker has raised taxes and fees 49 times, extracting over $5 billion from hardworking families. He doubled the gas tax his first day in office, then indexed it to rise automatically—so politicians never have to vote on it again.
The result: Illinois now has the #1 highest property taxes in America and the #2 highest gas tax. A middle-class family pays $4,472 more per year than the national average. Every bordering state has lower taxes—cross any border and save thousands.
Rick Heidner wants to make Illinois the state of opportunity. He's spent 40 years balancing budgets and controlling costs. He knows Illinois doesn't have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem.
Rick will fight for tax relief, budget accountability, and putting your hard-earned money back in your pocket.
CREATE JOBS
REAL OPPORTUNITIES—THE KIND WORTH STAYING FOR.
Under Pritzker, Illinois ranks 48th for business climate. Major employers have packed up and left. Small businesses are crushed by regulations and taxes. Our young people graduate from Illinois universities—then leave for opportunities in other states.
Rick Heidner built his business from a $10,000 loan into an operation spanning five states. He knows what job creators need: lower taxes, sensible regulations, and a government that gets out of the way.
Rick will make Illinois the state of opportunity by growing the businesses already here and bringing new ones in. Illinois families shouldn't have to choose between staying close to home and building a life they can afford.
SCHOOLS THAT WORK
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A QUALITY EDUCATION.
Illinois spends more per pupil than most states, yet too many children are trapped in failing schools with no way out. Parents are told to wait while their kids fall further behind.
Rick Heidner believes parents—not bureaucrats—should decide what's best for their children. He supports school vouchers that give families a real choice: if your school isn't working, you should have the freedom to find one that does. He will fight for higher standards, real accountability, and schools where kids can learn and be safe.
Our children are our future. It's time we started acting like it.
SAFE STREETS
CRIMINALS BELONG IN JAIL—NOT BACK ON THE STREETS.
Public safety is a top concern for Illinois residents—and for good reason. Under Pritzker's SAFE-T Act, passed at 4 a.m. with zero Republican votes, Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bail. Today, 103 defendants charged with murder are on electronic monitoring in Cook County. Nearly 20% of people arrested for felonies are already on pretrial release for another case.
Even Pritzker now admits the law needs changes. Even his own State's Attorney calls electronic monitoring "a serious threat to public safety."
Illinois families deserve to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Rick Heidner will fight for real reform: judges who can detain dangerous offenders, electronic monitoring that actually works, and a system that puts victims first. Our police officers deserve a Governor who stands WITH them—not against them.
No more living in fear. It's time to take back our streets.
— Rick Heidner's campaign website (February 18, 2026)
Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
