Illinois Governor’s Race Too Close to Call

Illinois still doesn’t know who the next governor will be. The contenders, incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, and Republican state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, are running neck-and-neck, each with a little more 46 percent of the votes, according to the Chicago Tribune. Quinn had a slight lead of 8,000 votes as of Wednesday morning, the Huffington Post reported.

The Illinois State Board of Elections said it will certify the results of the general election on Dec. 3.

During the campaign, Brown assailed Quinn for wanting to raise the state income tax as Illinois struggles with a budget deficit that could top $15 billion, the Associated Press has reported.

Quinn, who inherited the job in 2009 when Rod Blagojevich was thrown out of office, has blasted Brady for being a wealthy real estate developer who Quinn says will decimate education and social services if elected.

The winner of the governor’s race would presumably affect who the next director of the insurance department will be. That post is currently held by Michael T. McRaith. Quinn has named McRaith as the director of the newly created Department of Insurance in 2009. The Department of Insurance (DOI) separated from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) on June 1, 2009

One of the most important issues on the ballot, according to Springfield voter Robbie Walters, 44, was a proposed constitutional amendment that would give citizens limited power to recall unpopular governors.

“We all learned that four years is too long a period to wait when you know what is going on is just not right and not correct,” Walters told the AP. “Anywhere else in business they’d kick a guy out on the street if he’s not doing his job.”