Indie governor hopeful Corbett’s place on ballot affirmed after Bailey campaign pulls objection

A challenge to independent gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett’s nominating petitions was withdrawn Wednesday by Republican hopeful Darren Bailey’s campaign, preserving the Palatine resident’s name on the November ballot.

Bailey’s team “did whatever they could to keep us off the ballot, but they couldn’t stop our commonsense movement of everyday Illinoisans,” said Corbett, a longtime Republican operative.

In response to the objection, Corbett’s petitions were scrutinized last week by Illinois State Board of Elections staff who found that he had 27,323 confirmed signatures, more than the required 25,000, officials said.

The state board would still have needed to vote on the issue, but Wednesday’s withdrawal ended the process.

Getting on the ballot “officially makes history, with Collin being just the third Independent candidate for Illinois governor in the last 86 years, and the first serious third party or Independent candidate since 1912,” the Corbett campaign said.

His candidacy marks a rift in Illinois Republican politics as conservative Bailey runs for a second time against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

Corbett has contended the former state senator can’t prevail against Pritzker, and that’s drawn fire from the Bailey camp, which has questioned his GOP credentials.

“The Bailey/ (Aaron) Del Mar campaign will continue to work around the clock to expand the base and build a coalition of voters who are tired of the status quo and want real solutions to the high taxes and affordability issues they face in a state JB Pritzker has mismanaged the last seven years,” a spokesman said.

Green Party candidate Griselda Romero of Lisle also is running for governor.