Changes

==Politics==

==Politics==

[[File:Illinois Governor Election Results by County, 2014.svg.png|thumb|left|150px|2014 gubernatorial election results. If it were not for Cook County, Rauner would have won in a landslide.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Newman | first1=James | title=Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again | url=http://www.niutoday.info/2014/11/05/think-quinnrauner-was-a-squeaker-and-durbinoberweis-was-a-cakewalk-heres-why-youd-be-wrong/ | date=November 5, 2014 | publisher=''[[Northern Illinois University|NIU]] Today'' | accessdate=July 26, 2016}}</ref>]]

[[File:Illinois Governor Election Results by County, 2014.svg.png|thumb|left|150px|2014 gubernatorial election results. If it were not for Cook County, Rauner would have won in a landslide.<ref>{{cite web | last1=Newman | first1=James | title=Quinn/Rauner a Squeaker? Durbin/Oberweis a Cakewalk? Think Again | url=http://www.niutoday.info/2014/11/05/think-quinnrauner-was-a-squeaker-and-durbinoberweis-was-a-cakewalk-heres-why-youd-be-wrong/ | date=November 5, 2014 | publisher=''[[Northern Illinois University|NIU]] Today'' | accessdate=July 26, 2016}}</ref>]]

Overall, Illinois is a blue state. Geographically speaking, the vast majority of Illinois is Republican and conservative, but because of the large population of ultraliberal Cook County and parts of the suburbs, the Democratic Party dominates the state. The 2014 gubernatorial election was very tight, even though Bruce Rauner, who won the election, won every county except Cook. Many consider Illinois to be a liberal stronghold, especially in regard to [[presidential]] elections.

Overall, Illinois is a blue state. Geographically speaking, the vast majority of Illinois is Republican and conservative, but because of the large population of ultraliberal Cook County and parts of the suburbs, the Democratic Party dominates the state. The 2014 gubernatorial election was very tight, even though Bruce Rauner, who won the election, won every county except Cook. Particularly regarding presidential elections, Illinois is a liberal Democrat stronghold.

Currently, Illinois has a [[Democratic]] governor, [[Patrick Joseph Quinn]], but has elected [[Republican]] governors in the recent past, such as [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/</ref>  Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling [[commercial driver's license]]s when he was the [[Illinois Secretary of State]]. There are 2 Senators and 19 Representatives in Illinois.

Currently, Illinois has a [[Republican Party|Republican]] governor, [[Bruce Rauner]]. One of its GOP governors in the recent past was [[George Ryan]], who controversially emptied the state's death row after an investigation by [[Northwestern University]] law students proved that one death row inmate was innocent.<ref>http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/01/11/illinois.death.row/</ref>  Critics charged that he only did so to gain sympathy because he was about to be tried for [[corruption]] and selling [[commercial driver's license]]s when he was the [[Illinois Secretary of State]]. There are 2 Senators and 18 Representatives in Illinois.

Illinois is one of the worst fiscally managed states in the United States.<ref>Lawler, Joseph (July 11, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-5-worst-fiscally-managed-states-in-the-usa/article/2628211 The 5 worst fiscally managed states in the USA]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>

Illinois is one of the worst fiscally managed states in the United States.<ref>Lawler, Joseph (July 11, 2017). [http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/the-5-worst-fiscally-managed-states-in-the-usa/article/2628211 The 5 worst fiscally managed states in the USA]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved July 13, 2017.</ref>