Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, a two-term Republican known for his moderation and fiscal stewardship that rescued the state from deep debt, passed away on Sunday. He was 79 years old. His death was due to complications from treatment for pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he had made public earlier this year.
Who Was Jim Edgar?
Jim Edgar was a defining political figure in Illinois for decades. He started his public service career in the state Assembly before serving as Illinois’s secretary of state for ten years. He was elected Governor in 1990 and won re-election in a landslide, even carrying heavily Democratic Cook County, home to Chicago.
Edgar was often described as a cautious, reserved, and pragmatic moderate Republican, a stark contrast to the more flamboyant style of his predecessor, James R. Thompson. Colleagues observed that his guiding philosophy was integrity.
What Were His Key Achievements as Governor?
When Edgar took office, Illinois was in a dire financial state, facing hundreds of millions in debt and consistently paying its bills months late. Stabilizing the state’s tumultuous finances throughout a national recession is his most notable accomplishment.
How did he fix the budget?
Among the many challenging yet essential actions he persisted in taking were:
- Implementing significant budget cuts.
- Authorizing state layoffs.
- Establishing a permanent income tax surcharge, which gave public schools a consistent and dependable source of funding.
- These actions are credited with placing Illinois on a firmer financial footing and are remembered as one of the most successful periods in the state’s governance.
Why Did He Leave Politics?
Despite his high approval ratings, Edgar surprised the political world by choosing not to run for a third term in 1997. Later, he also declined opportunities to run for the U.S. Senate or return as governor. After leaving office, he transitioned to academia and served as the president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.
In his later years, he grew uneasy with the Republican Party’s shift to the right. He opposed Donald Trump as president, and in 2023 he notably joined a group that backed Kamala Harris’s campaign.
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How is Illinois Remembering Him?
Tributes from across the political spectrum have poured in, highlighting his decency and effective leadership. Former Lieutenant Governor Bob Kustra praised him, saying he “was a Republican whose integrity guided his time in office and who managed one of the most successful periods in Illinois state government.”
Current Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor, stating that Edgar “exemplified honesty, integrity, and respect for all.” He added, “He will live on in the incalculable number of lives he touched and in the stronger institutions he helped build.”
Jim Edgar is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their two children. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
