Gov. Bruce Rauner is rich. So are Democratic challenger Chris Kennedy and potential Democratic candidate J.B. Prizker. Do the non-rich have a chance?

The 2018 race for governor of Illinois is shaping up to be a war of rich men, with wealthy Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican, putting $50 million into his re-election fund on Dec. 23, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Democratic businessman Chris Kennedy, a son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, is running for the Democratic nomination. He managed the family-owned Merchandise Mart and other properties; he is chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises Inc., the family's investment company; and he heads Top Box Foods, a Chicago nonprofit. He's also a former president of the University of Illinois board of trustees.

Kennedy is actively campaigning throughout the state. He told Opinion Editor Wally Haas and me that he is running because Rauner is taking the state in the wrong direction — Illinois has gone without a budget since June 30, 2015. It's looking increasingly likely that the state will not have a budget through 2018 because Rauner and House Speaker Mike Madigan are locked in a grudge match of competing priorities. Rauner wants to enact his "turnaround agenda" of pro-business reforms as part of a state spending plan, while Madigan says those things shouldn't be in the budget because they would hurt the middle class.

Kennedy said Rauner is the culprit in this dispute. He dismissed Rauner's agenda as "phantom fantasy."

"First, there's nothing more important than passing a budget. Gov. Rauner, by not passing a budget, has turned the state's budget problems into a statewide economic crisis. Let's pass a budget and put that behind us," Kennedy told us.

According to Fortune.com, Madigan, who is also chairman of the state Democratic Party, said Kennedy would make an "excellent candidate" for governor after he spoke to the Illinois delegation at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Whether that was meant as a green light to Kennedy or just a compliment is hard to say. But it certainly doesn't hurt Kennedy's chances within influential Democratic Party circles.

And why not? Rather than raising millions of dollars to assist a candidate for governor, a self-funding Kennedy would free Madigan to raise funds for state legislative candidates, Cook County candidates and statewide candidates in 2018. And the Kennedy name still has a certain star quality.

Ah, but there's another wealthy Democrat who might run. He's J.B. Pritzker, manager of Pritzker Group, an investment company. He is the son of Donald Pritzker, co-founder of the Hyatt hotel chain. J.B. Pritzker told Bloomberg News that he would "spend what it takes" if he were to become a candidate.

There are at least a couple of non-rich Democrats either running or considering a run. Chicago 47th Ward Alderman Ameya Prashar says he will run. Others who could run are state Sen. Daniel Biss, D-Evanston, and Rep. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill. However, they would actually have to raise their own money. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, and state Treasurer Mike Frerichs, have said they will not run for governor in 2018.

Next year is shaping up to be good for Democrats, what with President Donald Trump's proposed budget that slashes funding for everything from after-school programs and Meals on Wheels for the elderly to mass transit operations in cities, and hundreds of other domestic programs.

Meanwhile, Rauner's favorability is dropping, according to a poll released Wednesday by Southern Illinois University's Paul Simon Public Policy Center. "Thirty-six percent (of those polled) somewhat approve or strongly approve of his performance, while 58 percent somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove. That compares with a 40 percent approval rating and 55 percent disapproval rating last October," the poll said.

Speaker Madigan's ratings are negative, too. The poll found that 61 percent somewhat or strongly disapprove of Madigan's performance and 26 percent somewhat or strongly approve. However, Madigan only has to run in his southwest Chicago district, which his organization controls. He won't be on the ballot opposite Bruce Rauner.

Spending one's own money doesn't guarantee victory for wealthy candidates in Illinois. Anyone remember Blair Hull? In 2004, he spent $24 million of his money to win the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. An obscure state senator, Barack Obama of Chicago, won that contest and went on to become quite successful in national politics from what I hear.

And how about Jim Oberweis? The successful Chicagoland businessman is chairman of Oberweis Dairy and founder of Oberweis Asset Management. According to Vote Smart, Republican Oberweis ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, U.S. House in 2008, Illinois governor in 2006, and U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2002. He lost those races. He did win a state Senate seat in 2012 and 2016 and represents the 25th District in the Aurora area.

Chuck Sweeny: 815-987-1366; csweeny@rrstar.com; @chucksweeny