After Split from GOP, Corbett Making Independent Run for Governor
Former GOP strategist Collin Corbett, who confirmed he’s launching an independent campaign for Governor.
After a public breakup last week with the Republican Party, former GOP strategist and consultant Collin Corbett confirmed to The Illinoize late Tuesday he will launch an independent bid for Governor.
Corbett, 40, of suburban Palatine, says the two political parties have ignored “everyday people,” and described the launch as an “independent movement” to change that.
“I’m tired of the ‘politics of no.’ It’s easy to be against something. It’s much harder, but much more important, to be for something,” Corbett said. “We have mainstream, common sense solutions to the problems we face which would bring hope for a better future in Illinois. We can make people’s lives better.”
Corbett says it isn’t a race against his old party.
“This isn’t about any politician or political party. It isn’t anti-anything. It’s pro-Illinois,” he said. “We are putting the focus on everyday people and how we can help make their lives better. We will work with anyone who is willing to join us in pushing forward solutions to the problems we face in Illinois.”
Corbett’s running mate will be Carolyn Schofield, a 2022 Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, who ran with then-Sen. Paul Schimpf. They finished fifth in the GOP primary. She also ran for Illinois House in 2020. She currently sits on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning Board.
“We are everyday people, not millionaires or billionaires,” Corbett said. “We care about the people of Illinois and we have empathy for the challenges families face because we’ve faced the same challenges. We’ve stood up for what’s right, even against our own political party and even when it has cost us dearly.”
(Disclosure: Corbett is a close friend and wouldn’t speak to me on the record about the story until last night.)
Corbett announced Monday he was taking a “leave of absence” from Cor Strategies, his political consulting firm. The group most recently worked with GOP U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy (who announced a split with Corbett Monday) and GOP Comptroller nominee Bryan Drew.
Sources say polling has shown GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey is doing “horribly” in a general election matchup with Gov. JB Pritzker, which may have played a role in Corbett’s entrance in the race.
But, is Corbett getting into the race to win against two established parties and a billionaire incumbent?
“The data says we can win in a two-person race against Pritzker, and are in a better position to do so than Bailey, but we know that’s not likely to happen,” Corbett said. “Ultimately, this is just the first step in building a long-term independent movement in Illinois, an effort that will continue well beyond November of 2026.”
Corbett said, nationally, 45% of voters identify as “independent,” compared with 27% for the two major parties.
“The reality is the mainstream is the majority today in our politics,” he said. Our independent movement will bring this coalition together, coordinating our efforts, and amplifying our voices.”
We’re told the campaign has around $1 million in fundraising commitments already and that petitions are already in the field.
The campaign, we’re told, is hiring an outside firm to collect signatures to get Corbett and Schofield on the November ballot. They’ll need 25,000 valid signatures, and sources say the campaign is aiming for 50,000 signatures. The filing period is May 18-26.
We’re told Corbett plans to make a public announcement after the filing window closes.
The effort has drawn a wide swath of support, mostly from disaffected and former Republicans. Lou Sandoval, the former President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce has signed on as Chair of the campaign. Donna Johnson, the Mayor of Libertyville, will serve as a “senior advisor” to the campaign.
