Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar Passes Away

Posted By: Withers Syndication
September 15, 2025 @ 8:19 am
Local News

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SPRINGFIELD – Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar died Sunday. He was 79.

Former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar speaks at a May 28 event in Springfield to dedicate the reading room at the Illinois State Library in his honor. Edgar helped secure funding for the facility when he was secretary of state. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jerry Nowicki)

Capitol News Illinois reports the former Republican disclosed an aggressive pancreatic cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Edgar spent nearly his entire adult life in and around Illinois government and politics.

His career began as an intern in Springfield before a brief stint in the Illinois House. He was Illinois’ secretary of state for a decade before serving as governor from 1991 to 1999.

The former governor was a pro-choice moderate Republican and became a vocal critic of President Donald Trump in recent years, even campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.