Rauner repeatedly branded Quinn’s six years as governor a 'failure.' Rauner ousts Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn

Republican businessman Bruce Rauner has defeated Illinois Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, denying the sitting governor a second full term in office.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Rauner led Quinn 51 percent to 46 percent, according to the Associated Press.


Quinn and Rauner faced off in one of the most competitive gubernatorial races of the 2014 cycle, with polls consistently handing single-digit advantages to either candidate leading up to Election Day.

( PHOTOS: Election Day 2014)

In what turned out to also be one of the most expensive governor’s races in the country — Rauner plowed at least $20 million of his own money in the race — Quinn homed in on Rauner’s business record, targeting the multimillionaire’s work in the private-equity sector and casting him as a wealthy and out-of-touch executive.

Meanwhile, Rauner repeatedly branded Quinn’s six years as governor a “failure,” hitting the incumbent on a range of issues including the state’s unemployment rate, tax code and education funding.

Rauner, who founded and chaired Chicago-based private-equity firm GTCR, got help from high-profile national Republicans, such as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

Some of the Democratic Party’s most prominent surrogates — including Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — campaigned for Quinn in the final months of the race. Last month, President Barack Obama appeared at an event for Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin in Chicago, urging voters in his hometown to “vote their conscience.”

( Full 2014 election results)

Quinn served as Illinois lieutenant governor and became governor in 2009 after then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment and removal from office for corruption charges. Quinn, 65, was narrowly elected to his first full term in 2010.