Rick Heidner, Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, said that while Gov. J.B. Pritzker spent $300 million to renovate the governor’s mansion, the state continues to face rising crime, higher taxes, and the nation’s lowest credit rating.
“JB Pritzker spent over $300M to buy the governor’s mansion,” said Heidner. “Here’s what Illinois got: more crime, higher taxes, and nation-worst credit rating. Illinois doesn’t need a billionaire in charge, it needs a builder.”
According to AP News, Chicago ended 2024 with 573 murders, marking the first time since 2019 that the total fell below 600. Despite this decrease, it remained the highest number of murders in any U.S. city that year, highlighting the scale of violent crime in Illinois’ largest city. Police leaders acknowledged improvements in reducing shootings but emphasized that further efforts are necessary to enhance neighborhood safety.
Illinois residents face some of the highest property taxes nationwide. A 2024 Census-based analysis revealed that the state had the highest effective property tax rate at $17.93 per $1,000 of home value. These high taxes contribute to cost-of-living pressures, particularly affecting middle-income homeowners and retirees striving to remain in their communities.
The state is also experiencing a population decline as residents move to other states. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 estimates, Illinois experienced a net domestic migration loss of 56,235 people between July 2023 and July 2024—the third-largest outflow in the nation after California and New York. This exodus is shrinking both the tax base and workforce despite international immigration partially offsetting overall population decline.
According to his campaign site, Heidner is a Barrington Hills real estate developer and owner of Gold Rush Gaming, one of Illinois’ largest video-gaming operators. He has officially entered the GOP gubernatorial race by filing with the State Board of Elections and selecting Homer Glen Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike as his running mate.
