Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Dies at 79, Remembered for Fiscal Leadership
Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Dies at 79, Remembered for Fiscal Leadership
CHICAGO — Jim Edgar, the popular two-term Republican who served as Illinois Governor in the 1990s and was credited with bringing the state to a period of greater financial stability, died Sunday at the age of 79. His family confirmed his passing, stating he died from complications related to his treatment for pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he had publicly shared earlier this year.
Edgar, a former state legislator and Illinois Secretary of State for a decade, was first elected governor in 1990. A moderate Republican, he secured an easy reelection, notably winning heavily Democratic Cook County. During his tenure, amid a recession, Edgar spearheaded efforts to cut the state budget, including layoffs and reductions in popular programs. He also fulfilled a key campaign promise by making a temporary income tax surcharge permanent, ensuring a stable funding source for public schools.
Known for his reserved demeanor, Edgar remained a respected party statesman and adviser, growing increasingly uneasy with the Republican Party’s shift to the right. He was among high-profile Republicans who did not support Donald Trump’s presidency and joined the “Republicans for Harris” campaign last year.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced Sunday that flags across the state would fly at half-staff in Edgar’s honor. “Now more than ever, we should channel that spirit and resolve to live as Governor Edgar did: with honesty integrity, and an enduring respect for all,” Pritzker said in a statement. Bob Kustra, who served as Edgar’s lieutenant governor, lauded him as “a Republican whose integrity guided his time in office and who managed one of the most successful periods in Illinois state government.”
Edgar surprised many by not seeking a third term in 1997 despite his popularity. After leaving office, he taught and served as president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. He is survived by his wife and two children. Details regarding funeral arrangements are expected in the coming days.
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