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Corbett

The Tribune reported Corbett is the first independent to qualify for the Illinois governor's general-election ballot in 16 years and one of only three in the past century. He had lent his campaign $500,000 and raised less than $88,000 beyond that. He said he was 'shooting for 15%' of the vote. Former Illinois Chamber of Commerce head Lou Sandoval served as campaign chairman.

The Fulcrum reported on Corbett's continued exclusion from the WTTW October 13 gubernatorial forum under the station's 15% polling threshold, with Corbett at 6% in the only public poll available.

On an Illinois Public Media podcast, Corbett outlined a proposed accountability system for state spending: reviewing programs, freezing discretionary spending, and directing future revenue toward incentives for local governments that lower property taxes.

North Shore Weekly reported on Corbett's independent candidacy, including his policy positions on data centers and his rationale for running without a major-party label.

A Public Policy Polling survey commissioned by Chicago News Weekly (conducted Sept. 30–Oct. 1, released Oct. 4) of 569 Illinois voters found Pritzker at 54%, Bailey at 34%, Corbett at 6%, and 6% undecided.

The Sun-Times outlined the three-way race, noting Corbett's ballot qualification and the earlier signature challenge that was withdrawn.

Corbett was interviewed by WILL as an independent candidate for Illinois governor, discussing his policy positions and rationale for running outside the two major parties.

In a Shaw Local candidate questionnaire, Corbett proposed a state framework for data centers covering energy costs, water use, local community impacts, and property-tax relief, and described a middle-ground regulatory approach.

Corbett was described as aware of the steep odds facing an independent candidate for Illinois governor but committed to making his case to voters.

Reporting described Corbett as a former GOP strategist running as an independent for Illinois governor, with Carolyn Schofield as his running mate, positioning himself as an alternative to Pritzker and Bailey.

Corbett's campaign challenged WTTW's rule requiring debate participants to be nominees of state-recognized political parties. WTTW removed that rule but retained a 15% polling threshold, which Corbett did not meet.

An Illinois appellate panel reversed a 2024 summary judgment in Corbett's favor and remanded the Grasso defamation case for trial, finding a factual dispute over whether Corbett recklessly disregarded the truth. Corbett said he was confident the trial court would rule in his favor.

Bailey's running mate Aaron Del Mar had objected that Corbett lacked sufficient valid signatures; the Bailey campaign withdrew the challenge in June, clearing Corbett's path to the ballot.

Corbett filed nominating petitions reporting roughly 37,000 signatures, above the 25,000 required to qualify as an independent candidate for Illinois governor.

A trial court issued a summary judgment in Corbett's favor in the defamation case brought over the 2019 campaign mailers about Gary Grasso's property-tax exemptions.

Corbett and his consulting firm produced 2019 campaign mailers concerning former Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso's property-tax exemptions, which later became the subject of a defamation lawsuit.