FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR JIM EDGAR DIES AT 79

Jim Edgar, Illinois’ 38th governor who served from 1991 to 1999, has died at age 79. Edgar, a moderate Republican known for his bipartisan approach and commitment to public service, passed away Sunday from complications related to treatment for pancreatic cancer, a diagnosis he made public earlier this year.
Though out of office for 26 years, Edgar remained active in Illinois politics, most recently leading a bipartisan program to cultivate emerging leaders across the state. His family released a statement Sunday expressing gratitude for the support shown to Edgar and his family in recent months.
Despite his declining health, Edgar continued to make public appearances, including at the 2025 Edgar Fellows program in Urbana, where he required an emergency room visit during the event.
A moderate Republican, Edgar often stood apart from his party’s more hardline positions. He was one of the few Illinois Republicans with a pro-choice stance on abortion and later became a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. Last year, he campaigned alongside other Republicans for then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ unsuccessful presidential bid.
Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, called Edgar a “friend and mentor” and praised his commitment to bipartisan leadership. “His commitment to reaching across the aisle in service of the people of Illinois undeniably made our state better,” Pritzker said. He also announced that flags across Illinois would be lowered to half-staff in Edgar’s honor.
Born in rural northeast Oklahoma, Edgar grew up in Charleston, Illinois, and attended Eastern Illinois University, where he was elected student body president. His first taste of politics came in first grade, when he ran Dwight D. Eisenhower’s campaign in his elementary school’s mock election.
Edgar was elected to the Illinois House in 1976 at age 30. During his second term, then-Gov. Jim Thompson appointed him legislative liaison and later secretary of state, a post he held from 1981 until becoming governor in 1991.
Among his many contributions to Illinois, Edgar was instrumental in funding and expanding the Illinois State Library and spearheaded a 50-year plan to address the state’s pension funding, often referred to as the “Edgar ramp.” He also strengthened drunk driving penalties, required car insurance for Illinois drivers, and facilitated business incorporation in the state.
Edgar’s lifelong commitment to public service and good government earned him respect across party lines. At a May 28th event dedicating the Jim Edgar Reading Room at the Illinois State Library, Edgar reflected on the importance of libraries and lifelong learning, urging Illinoisans: “Make use of this building. Libraries are only good if people are in them.”
Edgar’s legacy as a leader who prioritized honesty, integrity, and bipartisan collaboration will endure in Illinois politics.