Former Gov. Jim Edgar: Republicans Must Be United

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Hannah Meisel

Published August 14, 2014 at 4:31 PM CDT

Former Gov. Jim Edgar speaks at Republican Day at the Illinois State Fair on Thursday. Though he supported his former chief of staff Kirk Dillard in the primary, he now says the party must be united to elect Bruce Rauner.

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar says he's all in for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.

Edgar says the Democratic agenda offers more of the same policies voters have seen for the past decade. He even equated Gov. Pat Quinn's tenure to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is now serving a 14-year term in federal prison.

"The Blagojevich-Quinn governorship has been a disaster for Illinois," he said. "We have an opportunity this November to end one-party rule by electing Bruce Rauner the governor of Illinois."

Edgar made the comments at Republican Day at the Illinois state fair Thursday.

Edgar had supported his former chief of staff, Kirk Dillard, in the March primary but he says Republicans must be united to fight Democratic incumbencies.

Edgar left office in 1999 with high approval ratings. He is viewed as a moderate Republican.