Proft announces GOP run for governor

Conservative Republican Dan Proft is running for Illinois governor.

A political commentator on WLS radio, Proft announced Tuesday he's in the race because Illinois needs new leadership. He promised to take on the top Democrats who control the state.

Proft has experience running political campaigns. He was a top aide in Republican Alan Keyes' unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate seat that Democrat Barack Obama won in 2004. Proft is an executive at a Chicago communications firm.

The 37-year-old Chicagoan joins what is shaping up to be a crowded GOP gubernatorial primary.

State Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Matt Murphy of Palatine already have announced they're running. Fellow state Sen. Kirk Dillard also appears poised to jump into the race, and DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom has announced an exploratory committee.