Rep. Dan Ugaste Won't Run for Governor

Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) won’t run for Governor in 2026, but will seek re-election to the House.

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Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva), who had been considering a run for Governor in 2026, announced Wednesday he would not run for the state’s top office and would seek re-election to the House.

From his statement:

Rep. Ugaste, a leading voice for government accountability, economic opportunity, and individual liberty, said he wants to continue his fight from the House because there is still much that needs to be done for the people of the 65 th District.

“I’ve spent my time in office fighting to lower taxes, grow jobs, and bring transparency to state government,” Ugaste said. “At this juncture, I will continue this fight from the Illinois State House.”

Illinois continues to suffer under failed one-party rule. The state ranks second-highest in the nation for property taxes, burdening working families and driving residents out. Just as troubling is the fact that according to a WalletHub Illinois remains 50th out of 50 states in economic racial equality — a stunning indictment of the Democratic majority’s failure to deliver real results for those they claim to help, minority communities.

Ugaste says these are just a few examples of why change is urgently needed. “We’re being told by this administration that everything is working, but the numbers don’t lie,”

Ugaste added. “People are struggling, businesses are leaving, and opportunity is shrinking — especially for the communities most in need. I’m running for re-election because I’m not ready to give up on Illinois.”

NewsPatrick Pfingsten