Illinois' Republican gubernatorial candidates focus on law and order
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[January 27, 2022]
By Greg Bishop
(The Center Square) – From proposing
legislation to pumping out TV ads, a clear issue Republicans are raising
in this year's gubernatorial election is law and order.
State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, filed legislation Wednesday that
would enhance penalties for convicted cop killers. He said he supports
any bill that protects first responders.
“I’m supportive of absolutely anything up and to the full repeal of
these egregious acts that were committed over a year ago in
Springfield,” Bailey said at a Wednesday news conference.
Bailey and other Republicans have been critical of the sweeping law
impacting various aspects of criminal justice that majority Democrats
passed along party lines in 2021.
In separate TV ads, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and Jess Sullivan said
they’d bring about more support for law enforcement if they were elected
governor.
“I know corrupt warzones torn apart from violence, but this isn’t
Afghanistan, this is Chicago,” Sullivan said in a TV ad. “I’ve got a
plan. Defend our police, not defund them. And take the cuffs off our
cops and put them back on criminals.”
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jan/27/images/ads/current/graue_21CAMARO_100421.png)
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![](../images/012722pics/news_a61.jpg)
Courtesy of state Rep. Darren Bailey
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jan/27/images/ads/current/werth_lda_LUAL_2021.png) “If you come to our community
wrecking havoc, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the
law,” Irvin said in a separate TV ad for his campaign. “We will not
put up with this B.S. and foolishness, this I guarantee.”
Bailey, Sullivan and Irvin face several other Republican
gubernatorial candidates in the primary.
Last week, incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker downplayed the critics.
“They’re trying to create some sort of campaign issue for 2022,”
Pritzker said. “The truth is that the SAFE-T Act and Democrats who
voted for the SAFE-T Act are all about keeping people safe from
violent crime.”
Pritzker said Republicans have to get through a primary.
“They’ve got a lot of candidates,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker could face a primary from Democratic candidate Beverly
Miles, a Chicago-area nurse.
The primary is June 28. The midterm general election is in November. |