Peoria Standard

State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) has switched his support in the June 28 GOP gubernatorial primary from embattled Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin to downstate entrepreneur Jesse Sullivan.

The move came via an invite to a Sullivan rally after months of supporting Irvin despite several red flags, including Irvin’s history of voting largely for Democrats and an apparent distaste for former President Donald Trump.

"As we are entering the final days before the Primary Election, I hope you'll consider joining me tomorrow at Obed & Isaac's in Peoria from 5:30-9:30pm for a Rally for Jesse Sullivan for Governor,” Spain said in the invite. “You can learn more at the event and RSVP here. Hope to see you there!”

Spain was an early supporter of Irvin’s. He and several other GOP legislative leaders signed a letter of support that was widely circulated.

“Illinois under [Gov.] JB Pritzker has been one disaster after another — from his failure to take accountability for the state’s significant challenges or his inability to manage problems at state agencies,” Spain said in the April 1 letter. “Now we have an opportunity to elect proven leaders who have prioritized Illinois families and have pledged to root out crime and corruption, and provide the relief residents so badly need, which is why I am putting my full support behind Richard Irvin and Avery Bourne.”

The release of that announcement on April Fool’s Day seems more appropriate now.

Spain’s support of Sullivan has already faced criticism on Facebook.

“Jesse Sullivan is a California liberal, anti-Trump, and a Clinton Globalist,” an ad reads, showing a photo of Sullivan sharing hands with former President Bill Clinton in the foreground, with a cutout of Spain in the background behind Clinton. “Is this where Ryan Spain stands? Learn more at LiberalSullivan.com.”

Spain’s retraction of his support came as AM 560’s Chicago’s Morning Answer host Dan Proft reported on rumors that the group of supporters led by House Minority leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) were beginning to jump ship.

“Richard Irvin's loss could loom large over Jim Durkin's bid to retain his job leading the Illinois House GOP,” he said on today's broadcast. “That's interesting. We'll see. I don't know that there's anybody in the House Republican caucus that wants the job that could get the job. I know that the balance of power is moving away from the suburbs to downstate, which is appropriate for the Republican Party, because that's where the energy is, because that's where you have conservative reform leadership. You have none in the suburbs. So why should it stay here?

“But whether Durkin stays the titular head of the super minority in the House or not, you should also know that another little development over the weekend is Durkin and some of these feckless combined House and Senate Republicans now fleeing Irvin like rats off a sinking ship and now trying to get people, caucus members, to come over and endorse Sullivan to try to whip vote for Sullivan. It's really funny to watch and sad and telling.”

Proft later took to Twitter to emphasize the point.

“House 30 Pieces of Silver Caucus Leader Jim Durkin and his band of ‘GOP’ poltroons are scurrying off Richard Irvin's sinking ship like rats and now pushing Sullivan," Proft posted on Twitter. "Fun to watch. I wonder if Ken Griffin has a new appreciation for the kind of people with whom he laid down. @ilgop."

Irvin also is struggling to gain support from his local Republican organization, as the Aurora Township Central Committee has refused to support or acknowledge his primary run for governor.