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Illinois Gubernatorial Candidate Profile: Kash Jackson

Grayson "Kash" Jackson is the Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor.

Born Benjamin Winderweedle in Louisiana, the 39-year-old retired U.S. Navy officer legally changed his name in 2017 and currently resides in north suburban Antioch. He announced his run for governor in June. 

Jackson's proposals include requiring any tax increases to be passed by two-thirds of voters in a referendum, as well as unspecified criminal justice reforms, which he said includes getting family courts to “stop treating divorcing couples as sources of revenue.”

That issue is one with particular relevance to his life, as Jackson has been locked in a legal battle with his second ex-wife over child support. In August, a judge gave Jackson 30 days to pay more than $3,000 to his ex-wife or he would be sent to jail.

That ruling came after Jackson told the judge that the third-party website he used to issue the payment – under a court order – mistakenly sent the funds to his first ex-wife.

In an August NBC News/Marist poll, 6 percent of respondents said they support Jackson. When it comes to funding his campaign, Jackson has far less in his war chest than the major party candidates, with just $985.32 in his committee as of the last reporting period.

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