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October 9 debate
Bruce Rauner (R) and Pat Quinn (D) traded barbs over past executive experiences during a debate hosted by the League of Women Voters of Illinois and WTVP. Quinn criticized Rauner as a political novice who had not been effective at turning around businesses as an equity investor. He cited bankruptcy proceedings for a nursing home operator run by Rauner's firm that was sued for wrongful deaths as examples of Rauner's alleged lack of business acumen. Rauner responded by pointing to poor state management of a $54.5 million anti-violence grant that had been under investigation by federal officials. The Republican candidate claimed that Quinn and state Democrats used the funds to shore up African American votes in the state, while Quinn argued that he eliminated the program when irregularities were brought to his attention.
Quinn asserted that the state's economic fortunes improved in the past four years, with increases in jobs throughout the state and decreased unemployment. Rauner argued that Quinn had not been a successful governor, claiming that "a small group of Chicago machine politicians" led the state down the wrong path.
