Frerichs Has First Unopposed Statewide Race in Nearly a Century
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs at a news conference last year. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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Republicans didn’t field a candidate against State Treasurer Mike Frerichs before the close of Monday’s petition filing period. Frerichs, 52, is a longtime State Senator from the Champaign area, who moved to Chicago last year, is seeking his fourth term next year.
We’ve been looking at election results dating back to the 30’s and have yet to find a statewide official run unopposed.
Frerichs’ campaign jumped at the unprecedented lack of an opponent.
“I am proud to have delivered for Illinois taxpayers, driving record returns and putting more money back in their pockets through ICash,” Frerichs said in a statement. “We also took the state’s college savings program from worst to first to help families set their children up for a brighter future.”
Frerichs previously flirted with running for U.S. Senate in 2026, but told me earlier this summer the conversations about heading to Washington “weren’t that serious” with two small children.
The Illinois GOP’s State Central Committee can still slate a candidate to challenge Frerichs, though it isn’t clear what kind of interest there is in the seat. An independent could also file to challenge Frerichs, as well.
