Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, making his first public appearance since Tuesday’s primary election, said he will support his party’s nominee for president, even if it’s Donald Trump.

The first-term governor, who has tried to stay out of the presidential nominating race, was responding to a question from reporters about GOP front-runner Trump, who won the Illinois primary.

“I will support the Republican Party’s nominee for president,” Rauner said. “I’ll do everything I can to work with that nominee.”

Advertisement

Rauner reiterated that position when asked again if he would support Trump, saying he would do so because “I am the leader of the Republican Party in Illinois.”

Asked if he had any doubts about Trump’s qualifications to be president, Rauner declined to discuss Trump specifically.

“As I’ve said, from the beginning, I think we should respect the voters’ decisions,” Rauner said. “The process is still in mid-stream. We should let the process play out, and I’m not going to comment on specific candidates.”

Rauner tried to avoid talking about the Republican presidential race in the weeks leading up to Illinois’ primary, saying he was focused on state government.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, who is up for re-election this year, said last week that he would support Trump if he becomes the party’s nominee. 

___ (c) 2016 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Advertisement*

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.