When you talk about Illinois politics, people usually start making jokes about orange jumpsuits. Honestly, it’s a bit of a cliché, but looking at the history, it’s not exactly unearned. If you’re trying to figure out who are the last 10 governors of Illinois, you’re basically looking at a timeline that swings wildly between massive infrastructure builds, historical civil rights moves, and federal investigations that ended in prison time.
It's a weird legacy. You’ve got "Big Jim" Thompson, who stayed in the mansion for 14 years, sitting just a few spots away from Rod Blagojevich, who tried to sell a Senate seat like it was a used Chevy. Understanding these ten people is basically understanding how the state became the fiscal and political enigma it is today.
The Current Era: JB Pritzker and the Billionaire Pivot
Since 2019, JB Pritzker has held the reins. He’s the 43rd governor and, let’s be real, his tenure has been defined by two things: COVID-19 and a massive shift in state finances. He inherited a mess. Before he showed up, Illinois was basically the "problem child" of the Midwest, with credit ratings that were one step above junk status.
Pritzker, a Democrat with a massive family fortune, managed to pass the "Rebuild Illinois" capital plan. We're talking $45 billion for roads, bridges, and broadband. He also pushed through the legalization of recreational marijuana, which turned into a massive tax revenue stream for a state that desperately needed cash. Love him or hate him, he’s the first guy in a long time to see the state's credit rating actually go up instead of down.
The Rauner Stalemate
Before Pritzker, there was Bruce Rauner (2015–2019). Rauner was a Republican venture capitalist who ran on the idea of "shaking up Springfield." He didn’t just shake it; he basically put it in a blender without a lid.
His term was defined by an epic, multi-year budget impasse with the Democratic-controlled legislature, led by the legendary (and now convicted) Mike Madigan. For over two years, Illinois didn't even have a formal budget. Social services suffered, universities panicked, and the state's bill backlog ballooned to roughly $16 billion. It was a brutal four years of political gridlock that eventually saw Rauner lose his reelection bid in a landslide.
The Accidental Governor: Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn (2009–2015) is a guy who never really expected to be the face of the state. He was the Lieutenant Governor when the Blagojevich world imploded. When Blago was booted, Quinn stepped in.
💡 You might also like: Jersey City Shooting Today: What Really Happened on the Ground
He was always known as a "populist" and a bit of a political gadfly. He had to deal with the fallout of the 2008 financial crisis and some of the worst pension debt in the country. He actually managed to win a full term in his own right in 2010, which surprised a lot of pundits. His time ended after he raised the state income tax, a move that—while arguably necessary to keep the lights on—was political suicide in a state already feeling the squeeze.
The Blagojevich Circus
You can't talk about who are the last 10 governors of Illinois without talking about Rod Blagojevich (2003–2009). This guy was a character. The hair, the tracksuits, the Shakespeare quotes—it was a spectacle.
He was the first Democrat to win the office in decades. But it all came crashing down in late 2008 when the feds caught him on tape trying to "sell" Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. He famously called the seat a "f-ing golden" thing and said he wouldn't give it away for nothing. He was impeached, removed from office, and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Fun fact: He actually did a stint on The Celebrity Apprentice while awaiting trial. Eventually, Donald Trump commuted his sentence in 2020.
George Ryan and the Death Penalty
George Ryan (1999–2003) is a fascinating case of "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." On one hand, he’s globally famous for declaring a moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois after several men were exonerated. He eventually cleared death row entirely.
On the other hand, he went to prison.
His downfall was the "Licenses for Bribes" scandal that happened while he was Secretary of State. State employees were taking bribes to give commercial driver's licenses to unqualified drivers. One of those drivers was involved in a horrific crash that killed six children. The investigation, called "Operation Safe Road," eventually led right to Ryan’s doorstep. He served about five years in federal prison.
📖 Related: Jeff Pike Bandidos MC: What Really Happened to the Texas Biker Boss
The Quiet Professional: Jim Edgar
If there’s a "gold standard" for what a governor should look like in the eyes of many Illinoisans, it’s Jim Edgar (1991–1999). He was a Republican, but the "moderate" kind that seems to have gone extinct.
Edgar was known for being incredibly frugal. They called him "Budget Jim." He took over a state that was broke and, through sheer discipline (and some luck with the 90s economy), left it with a surplus. He’s one of the few recent governors who walked out of the office with his reputation—and his freedom—completely intact.
"Big Jim" Thompson
James R. Thompson (1977–1991) is the heavyweight champion of Illinois governors. He served 14 years, longer than anyone else in the state’s history.
He was a former federal prosecutor (ironically, he was the one who put Otto Kerner, a previous governor, in jail). Thompson was a builder. He loved big projects—the Thompson Center in Chicago (which is now being gutted for Google) was his brainchild. He was a Republican who could work with Chicago Democrats, which is a skill set that basically doesn't exist anymore.
The Walker Walk
Dan Walker (1973–1977) was a Democrat who won by literally walking across the state. He hiked nearly 1,200 miles in a denim shirt to prove he was a man of the people.
He was a reformer who ended up fighting with everyone, including the Chicago machine and Mayor Richard J. Daley. He only served one term. And, in keeping with the Illinois theme, he also went to prison. However, his crimes weren't actually related to his time as governor; he was convicted later for bank fraud involving a savings and loan association.
👉 See also: January 6th Explained: Why This Date Still Defines American Politics
Richard Ogilvie and the Income Tax
Richard B. Ogilvie (1969–1973) was a war hero who had been wounded in WWII. He was a Republican who did something incredibly brave and politically stupid: he created the state income tax.
Before 1969, Illinois didn't have one. The state was sinking, and Ogilvie knew he had to act. He saved the state's finances but lost his reelection because voters were, unsurprisingly, furious about the new tax. History has been much kinder to him than his contemporaries were.
Samuel Shapiro: The Short Term
Rounding out the list of the last ten is Samuel H. Shapiro (1968–1969). He was the Lieutenant Governor who took over when Otto Kerner resigned to become a federal judge.
Shapiro was only in office for about eight months. He was a Democrat from Kankakee and was deeply involved in mental health advocacy. He lost a very close election to Ogilvie in 1968. He’s often the "forgotten" governor because his time was so short, but he was a respected figure in the state's legal and political circles.
How to Track This History Yourself
If you’re a history nerd or just someone trying to keep track of who’s running the show, there are a few ways to dig deeper into these figures without getting lost in Wikipedia holes.
- Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library: Located in Springfield, they have an incredible oral history project. You can actually listen to Jim Edgar or the late Jim Thompson talk about their decisions in their own words.
- Check the Illinois Blue Book: This is the official manual of the State of Illinois. It’s published every two years and contains the official biographies and vote totals for every governor.
- Look at the "Operation Safe Road" Archives: If you want the gritty details on the corruption side, the Department of Justice archives from the late 90s and early 2000s provide a roadmap of how the George Ryan and Blagojevich cases were built.
Basically, the list of the last 10 governors is a mix of high-minded policy and low-level grift. It’s uniquely Illinois. Whether it's Pritzker's multi-billion dollar budgets or Ogilvie's tax gamble, each one has left a mark that you can still feel today when you drive over an Illinois pothole or look at your property tax bill.
Next time you're in Springfield, take a look at the portraits in the Capitol. It's a gallery of characters that would make a Netflix writer jealous.
Actionable Insights for Illinois Residents
- Review Your Tax Dollars: Since the Ogilvie and Pritzker eras, tax structures have shifted. Use the Illinois Comptroller’s "The Warehouse" to see exactly where state money is going.
- Voter Registration: Given the volatile history of the governorship, participating in primaries is often more important than the general election in Illinois. Ensure your registration is current via the Illinois State Board of Elections.
- Engage with Local Representatives: The gridlock seen during the Rauner years was largely due to executive-legislative friction. Knowing your local state senator and representative is the best way to voice concerns about state-level stalemates.