On June 2, 2013, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford officially threw his name in the mix for the Republican gubernatorial primary. He is the only GOP candidate to hold statewide elected office. Before being elected treasurer, the Pontiac native was a member of the Illinois House from 1993 to 2002. He then was elected to the Illinois Senate. In 2006, Rutherford ran an unsuccessful campaign to become Illinois Secretary of State, failing to unseat Jesse White. In 2009, he became Assistant Republican Leader in the Illinois Senate. He was the sole Republican to vote in favor of civil unions in the Senate. He is opposed to same-sex marriage. In his race for treasurer, he beat Democrat Robin Kelly. Rutherford earned about 30 percent of the vote in Cook County.
- Watch Rutherford’s June 12, 2013 appearance on Chicago Tonight
- Watch Rutherford’s Jan. 20, 2014 appearance on Chicago Tonight
View a timeline of his political career: