Corbett, Congressional Hopefuls File Ahead of Deadline
Holding his 2-year-old son, Teddy, Independent candidate for Governor Collin Corbett formally announces his campaign Wednesday in Arlington Heights.
Political strategist Collin Corbett, a longtime Republican who made a public break from the GOP last month, formally filed petitions Tuesday to run for Governor as an independent.
Corbett, of suburban Palatine, filed around 38,000 signatures to get on the ballot. State law requires 25,000 valid signatures for a third party or independent to get on the ballot.
(Disclosure: Corbett is a close friend of mine and will be treated like any other candidate.)
“What I want to show is that there is a path for solutions, not the bickering, not the fighting,” Corbett told reporters outside of the State Board of Elections Tuesday afternoon. “People really want to see solutions that make their lives better. They’re fed up with all the hatred and the infighting.”
His campaign campaign has claimed it had $1 million in fundraising commitments when they launched their independent effort, and Corbett said they would likely pass GOP nominee Darren Bailey in fundraising.
Corbett’s running mate is Carolyn Schofield of Crystal Lake, who serves on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning board and was a 2022 Republican candidate for Lt. Governor with then-Sen. Paul Schimpf.
Corbett held a campaign news conference in the suburbs Wednesday.
Two independent candidates filed petitions to bring the total number of independents running for the seat being vacated by Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago). Garcia pulled a bait-and-switch at the end of the Democratic filing period, withdrawing his name at the last minute in favor of his Chief of Staff, Patty Garcia, who is no relation to the Congressman.
Lyons Mayor Chris Getty filed petitions as an independent last week. Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and political operative Mayra Macias filed petitions Tuesday. Republican Lupe Castillo and Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey are also on the ballot.
The heavily Democratic, heavily Latino 4th District stretches from Bridgeport and Pilsen on Chicago’s south side west to Cicero, Berwyn, Hinsdale, and Oak Brook.
