Who’s the real Republican? And does Trump make mistakes? Gov hopefuls debate (sans Bailey)

After weeks of amicably piling on Gov. JB Pritzker, Republicans vying to win the party’s gubernatorial nomination exchanged sideswipes over their GOP bona fides during a Tuesday debate.

Former Wirepoints chief Ted Dabrowski, video gambling magnate Rick Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick participated in the Fox 32 forum.

Candidate Darren Bailey, the 2022 GOP nominee who’s leading in recent polls, declined to attend.

“I’ve participated in four forums across the state, and my running mate Aaron Del Mar has taken part in three. Voters have had plenty of chances to hear from us — who we are, what we believe, and the direction we want to take Illinois,” Bailey, of downstate Xenia, told the Daily Herald.

The three participants all agreed they’d welcome an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Asked if he had any criticism of Trump’s performance, Dabrowski praised the president’s handling of the border.

“I love his school choice bill, the tax credit scholarship, and his Big Beautiful Bill,” the Wilmette resident added.

“One thing I do disagree with Trump on (is) investing in Intel,” the semiconductor chip manufacturer, Dabrowski said.

Mendrick, of Woodridge, asked rhetorically, “how do you think we’d be doing with Kamala Harris as president?

“Trump may say things that alarm people sometimes, but he’s saying what we’re all are thinking. I believe in his work,” Mendrick said. “Now, I get a president who supports the police; he supports the military.”

Heidner, of Barrington Hills, said “I’m so in line with (Trump) on business and growth and economics.”

However, “for illegal immigrants who’ve been here for a long time and been good citizens, and have homes, and pay taxes, and have kids in school — I’d like to see them have a path to citizenship without deporting them,” he said.

Heidner fielded questions on past donations to Democrats, including Republican lightning rods Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

A donation to Foxx was just $2,500, while a $25,000 contribution to Johnson came at the behest of a friend, he said. That was less than the $100,000 he gave to the mayor’s 2023 opponent, Paul Vallas, Heidner explained.

“I’ve been a businessman in Illinois for almost 50 years — I work with both sides of the aisle,” Heidner said. For those who disagree, “well, good luck being the governor and not working with Democrats.”

Dabrowski jumped in, warning of “pay to play politics, which is, you benefit from doing deals with Democrats, deals with Republicans.”

“Make sure you tell everybody, Ted, that you’re taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Democrats so I can’t be the candidate,” Heidner replied. “They don’t want me to be the candidate.”

Dabrowski responded that “a conservative Republican candidate can’t be giving money to Brandon Johnson and Kim Foxx. These are people who hate police.”

Asked about accusations of liberal leanings, Dabrowski pointed out his biggest benefactor is conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein.

“Everyone knows my conservative position,” he said. “If (Democrats) want to come over to me … if they want to donate to me and come on my side — heck, yeah.”

As sheriff, Mendrick said he’s had to reject donations from inappropriate sources, impacting his war chest.

“I honor the public court of appearance where people judge you by what you do. That has forced me to drive to 87 counties in the last 11 months,” Mendrick said. “We are driving everywhere. Talking to people, getting more supporters, more signs.

“We are a truly grass-roots campaign. When you’re beholden to money, money controls you.”