Republicans are on the defensive in several races in Illinois, one of the few Democratic bastions in the Midwest. The state has long faced budget problems and immense pension liabilities, and it has lost population in recent years. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, was elected in 2014 with a mandate to get Illinois’s finances in order, but his tenure has been bumpy. He is perhaps the country’s most vulnerable incumbent governor seeking another term. J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic nominee for governor, has criticized Mr. Rauner over a budget stalemate that lasted more than two years.

Source: New York Times November 06, 2018 15:01 UTC