Jim Ryan (R)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline)-Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan is considering a run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination next year.
The Elmhurst Republican has formed an exploratory committee, allowing him to raise money for a potential race. He formed the committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections on Friday.
In 2002, Ryan was the Republican nominee for governor. He lost to Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who resigned this year in disgrace.
If Ryan, a two-term attorney general, ultimately decides to join the GOP race he would join an already crowded field, which includes state Sens. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington, DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, Chicago businessman and former Illinois Republican Chairman Andy McKenna and pundit Dan Proft, both of Chicago.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Pat Quinn faces a primary challenge from Comptroller Dan Hynes.
A poll released by the Ryan campaign indicates that Ryan has 33 percent support for the Republican primary, in a race where 30 percent of GOP voters are undecided.
In second was Brady with 11 percent support. The other candidates polled with single digit support.
The poll was conducted Sept. 28-Oct. 1. The poll of 500 primary election voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.