Gov. Bruce Rauner responded Tuesday to a report that he is voting for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, claiming he is staying out of the presidential race altogether.
According to a Chicago Now report, Rauner responded to a question from a young man at the Taste of Polonia Festival on Chicago’s Northwest side Sunday, reportedly affirming that he will be voting for Trump in November.
“Are you voting for Trump,” the audience member asked.
Rauner then reportedly responded “yes” and nodded his head up and down.
However, on Tuesday, Rauner answered a question about the report, denying that he's endorsing anyone in the presidential race.
"I am not endorsing in the presidential race, I'm not commenting on the presidential race," Rauner said during a press conference in Wheeling. "I'm staying out of it and I'm focused 100 percent on Illinois."
In March, Rauner said he would support the billionaire if he became the party’s nominee, the Associated Press reported.
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At the time, the governor wouldn’t comment on individual candidates because the primary process was “still in mid-stream.” However, the Republican governor said he would support whoever the voters chose, including Trump. He also noted that he would do everything he could “to work with that nominee."
Rauner reversed course in May, announcing that he wouldn’t back Trump if he became the party’s nominee or attend July’s Republican National Convention.
Other Illinois Republicans, like Sen. Mark Kirk and Rep. Bob Dold, have also made it clear that they won’t back the divisive Trump.
