Rockford Sun

Rockford is the latest stop for Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) as she continues her gubernatorial campaign.

Ives will be speaking at a Make America Great Again event at Giovanni’s Convention Center at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, and meeting with the press shorty after.

Ives' campaign for governor is a direct challenge to Gov. Bruce Rauner, who she believes betrayed the GOP with several concessions he made on important issues such as abortions.

“He has basically discredited himself as a Republican,” Ives said in an interview with WTTW's "Chicago Tonight." “He’s signed into law very extreme measures. The man who said he had no social agenda ended up having only a social agenda.”

Ives has asserted that Illinois is ready for a strong leader.

“We’re traveling the state to let people know that they have a real option in the governor’s race," Ives told Rock Island Today. "They feel betrayed by both Gov. Rauner and the longtime political ruling class in Springfield. Places like Rock Island and like Decatur have become the forgotten places in Illinois by the Chicago Democrats who have run this state into the ground. This campaign is committed to helping every Illinoisan and their family succeed.”

Ives is  collecting signatures on petitions throughout the stateand has already visited Rock Island County, the Quad Cities, Decatur, Glen Carbon and Springfield. She has already garnered the support of several conservative groups such as the Wheatland Township Republican Organization (WTRO).

“We have consistently witnessed Jeanne Ives standing up for the interests of families and business,” WTRO President Stephen Collins said in a press release. “Additionally, she has kept the promise that she made to her constituents, to be a ‘lobbyist for the taxpayer.’ We appreciate her integrity and commitment. We are confident that she has the policy insight and political will to take on Illinois’ deeply entrenched political establishment.”