Conservative Ted Dabrowski Launches Illinois GOP Governor Bid

Ted Dabrowski, president of the conservative research group Wirepoints, officially launched his campaign for Illinois governor in the 2026 Republican primary, positioning himself as a data-driven reformer aiming to revitalize the Republican Party and improve the state's economic and educational challenges. Dabrowski, a former banker and policy leader at the Illinois Policy Institute, criticized incumbent Governor JB Pritzker for worsening Illinois' business climate, tax burden, and population growth, while condemning Pritzker's rhetoric against federal law enforcement and President Donald Trump. Dabrowski announced emergency room doctor Carrie Mendoza as his running mate, highlighting her political activism against what she sees as the politicization of medicine. Despite facing a well-funded incumbent, Dabrowski has already raised over $1 million and has strong support from state GOP leaders, asserting that financial resources will not overshadow Pritzker's poor record on job growth, taxes, and education. Dabrowski emphasizes conservative reform principles combined with moral clarity to appeal to productive Illinoisans and aims to present a competing vision for the state's future. His campaign underscores a push for stronger executive leadership to revive both the Republican Party and Illinois itself.