By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Once again in Illinois, a major candidate for governor has to introduce himself to most of the state.

The mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, has some challenges, according to University of Illinois Springfield political science professor Kent Redfield.

“He has to present himself in a way that makes it look like he is acceptable to the base,” Redfield says. “He also has to be careful in terms of saying things that don’t make him unelectable when you get to the general election.

“This is a blue state.”

That would assume Irvin is the primary winner among, as it stands now, five Republicans running for governor. Irvin headlines a GOP “slate” assembled by Ken Griffin, Illinois’ richest person. Griffin’s cash helped propel Bruce Rauner into the governor’s mansion for one term.

And while Democrat incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker, who unseated Rauner in 2018, does not enjoy unanimous support, Redfield says Pritzker probably has enough for a second term.

“Compared to the previous four years, in the face of a pandemic and in the face of the horrendous financial situation he inherited,” Redfield says, “this has been a pretty stable time.”

The primary is June 28.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]