GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner won the pre-primary endorsement from the Cook County Republican Party, Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed learned exclusively.
Rauner won by securing 63.3 percent of the 200,750 votes.
Among his opponents, state Sen. Kirk Dillard placed second with 10.18 percent of the votes.
State Treasurer Dan Rutherford came in third with 5.94 percent of the votes, and state Sen. Bill Brady placed dead last with zero percent.
This is the first time the Cook County Republican Party has endorsed someone pre-primary.
“If Rauner wins the endorsement, it will be hard for the other candidates to raise money, or they can expect to see all their donations dry up,” a top GOP source told Sneed earlier this week.
