SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner says he has friends in Donald Trump’s new administration and expects Illinois to have “a voice and a good relationship” with the president-elect.
Rauner said Wednesday,Nov. 16, that two of Trump’s “most senior folks in his administration” are good friends and allies but didn’t name them. He said he spoke with Trump for the first time Friday afternoon and that it was a positive conversation.
The governor made the comments while speaking to state business leaders to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
Rauner spent the campaign cycle distancing himself from Trump as Democrats tried to tie the former venture capitalist to the Republicans’ divisive presidential candidate. Trump lost Illinois but he performed better than Mitt Romney in conservative-leaning districts where Republicans defeated four Democratic state House incumbents.