Porter on Gov Race: "If We're Going to Run, We're Going to Win"
Former RNC National Committeeman Richard Porter speaks at the Illinois State Fair Republican Day Event in 2021. He is considering a run for Governor in 2026.
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While DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick became the first GOP candidate for Governor in 2026, another potential top GOP contender says he’s still in “wait and see” mode.
Former Republican National Committeeman for Illinois Richard Porter, a retired Chicago attorney, says he’s still considering pulling the trigger on a run, but he’s waiting to see how the race shapes up.
“I want to know what the landscape is going to look like,” Porter told me Monday on the radio. “I think it's important for us to consider what the alternatives are going to be, what are the issues going to be in the next election and whether or not I'm the right guy, the right fit for that set of issues. This is not something I need to do for my ego. The question is whether or not I can deliver a better Illinois in a way that other people don't have the ability to get done.”
If we're going to run, we're going to run to win,” he said. “The point is to actually change Illinois. This wouldn't be a vanity run. We would be in it to win.”
Former Illinois GOP Co-Chair and 2022 GOP candidate for Lt. Governor, Aaron Del Mar, is also laying groundwork for a run in 2026.
