Former Illinois governor Jim Edgar (R, 1991-1999) has died of pancreatic cancer:
Mr. Edgar was a moderate Republican whose ranks have all but disappeared in Illinois politics as the Trump-era MAGA movement took hold in the state. He was pro-choice on abortion and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, in her 2024 presidential bid against Donald Trump.
As the state’s 38th governor, he served two terms from 1991 to 1999. He also served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1976 to 1979 and as Illinois secretary of state from 1981 to 1991.
In 2012, the former governor started the Edgar Fellows Program at the University of Illinois System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, which aims to foster bipartisanship and cooperation between parties by developing young leaders in Illinois. Participants include former and current Illinois state legislative staff, elected officials and other leaders across the state.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday called Mr. Edgar a friend and mentor. Pritzker said flags across Illinois would fly at half-staff to honor Mr. Edgar’s legacy.
Edgar was the last sane, un-indicted Republican governor of Illinois. Today he likely would have run as a centrist Democrat, as evidenced by his votes for Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
I voted against him in both 1990 and 1994, though even I have to admit he was a better governor than Neil Hartigan would have been. And, of course, back then we didn't think it was the end of the world when someone in the other party got elected.
He will be remembered as a good public servant.
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