Former Illinois Republican Gov. Jim Edgar, who also served as Illinois Secretary of State and a state representative, died Sunday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 79.
Mr. Edgar died after being hospitalized due to a reaction to his cancer treatment. The former governor was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January. His family confirmed his passing Sunday.
“It is with heavy hearts we share the news that our beloved husband, father and grandfather Jim Edgar passed away this morning in Springfield from complications related to treatment for pancreatic cancer,” a family statement read. “We are deeply grateful for the love, support and kindness so many have shown to Jim and our family over these last several months.”
Mr. Edgar was a moderate Republican whose ranks have all but disappeared in Illinois politics as the Trump-era MAGA movement took hold in the state. He was pro-choice on abortion and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, in her 2024 presidential bid against Donald Trump.
As the state’s 38th governor, he served two terms from 1991 to 1999. He also served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1976 to 1979 and as Illinois secretary of state from 1981 to 1991.
He was reelected by the widest plurality any incumbent Illinois governor has ever received, winning 101 of the state’s 102 counties, including Cook County.
Mr. Edgar was much more reserved than his flashy, charming predecessor, James R. Thompson, who was the longest-serving governor in state history.
At the time Mr. Edgar took office, the state was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt and paying its bills months late.
Amid a recession, Mr. Edgar pushed lawmakers to cut the state budget, making layoffs and cuts in popular programs. He also managed to fulfill his campaign promise of getting a temporary income tax surcharge made permanent, guaranteeing a stable source of money for public schools.
“It wasn’t always pretty how it was done, but we got a lot done,” Mr. Edgar told The Associated Press in 1998. “We went after some pretty tough issues. We didn’t get them all, but we got most of them.”
Mr. Edgar surprised many political observers when he announced in 1997 that he would not seek a third term, considering his popularity. Republicans tried to draft him to run for office again, including bids for the U.S. Senate and again for Illinois governor. But he did not accept.
In 2012, the former governor started the Edgar Fellows Program at the University of Illinois System’s Institute of Government and Public Affairs, which aims to foster bipartisanship and cooperation between parties by developing young leaders in Illinois. Participants include former and current Illinois state legislative staff, elected officials and other leaders across the state.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Sunday called Mr. Edgar a friend and mentor. Pritzker said flags across Illinois would fly at half-staff to honor Mr. Edgar’s legacy.
“To me, the best politics is good government. If you do your job well, then that’s going to reflect well on me, and that’s the best politics there is.”
That honesty is what makes Gov. Jim Edgar an icon — and why I’m proud to dedicate the State Library Reading Room in his name. pic.twitter.com/z7MhjfWkue
— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) May 29, 2025
“Now more than ever, we should channel that spirit and resolve to live as Governor Edgar did: with honesty, integrity, and an enduring respect for all,” Pritzker said in the statement.
Mr. Edgar was born on July 22, 1946, in Vinita, Oklahoma, and was raised in downstate Charleston. He attended Eastern Illinois University, where he met his wife, Brenda. After retiring from office, Mr. Edgar was a fall 1999 resident fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who was part of the Edgar Fellows Program in 2016, said Mr. Edgar’s legacy is one of lasting impact.
“Former Governor Jim Edgar was a man of principle and a passionately dedicated civil servant,” Stratton said in a statement. “He saw past political divides and emphasized the importance of unity in leadership by making a point to always extend his hand across the aisle. He was practical, gave great advice, and did everything he could to build up the next generation of future leaders so that Illinois can continue to grow.”
In a post on X on Sunday, Sen. Dick Durbin said: “Illinois has lost a quality governor and I have lost a great friend.”
Al Grosboll worked with Mr. Edgar on and off for the last 52 years, serving as Mr. Edgar’s deputy chief of staff and senior policy adviser during his time as governor.
Mr. Edgar created an environment that encouraged different opinions and leaves a legacy as one of the most successful political officials in the history of the state of Illinois, Grosboll said.
“But, I think the real legacy of Jim Edgar is that he stood for good government,” Grosboll said. “He stood for solving problems, helping people and running honest government. He was for good government. And that’s an important lesson for all of us.”
Former Gov. Pat Quinn released a statement Sunday citing Mr. Edgar’s belief in a quality education for everyone.
“Gov. Jim Edgar was a good and decent man who cared deeply about the people of Illinois,” Quinn said in the statement.
Former Rep. Ray LaHood, a Republican who was U.S. Secretary of Transportation under Barack Obama, said Mr. Edgar was a very good friend. LaHood, like Mr. Edgar, was also among the vanishing breed of Illinois moderates, and endorsed Harris against Donald Trump. He said he spoke to classes of the Edgar Fellows Program and appreciated Mr. Edgar’s commitment to compromise and bipartisanship.
Mr. Edgar respected people’s opinions, was a great listener and loved public service, LaHood said.
“He was the gold standard for public service,” LaHood said. “He was somebody who you could really count on to be a leader.”
In a July interview with Chicago Sun-Times’ City Hall reporter Fran Spielman, Mr. Edgar detailed the difficulties of chemotherapy and what he wanted his legacy to be. He said he was taking things “one day at a time,” and taking care of his horses to stay busy.
“I want people to think, ‘He was a good, good public servant, he did a good job. Didn’t always agree with him, but he tried to do what he thought was the right thing,’” Mr. Edgar said in the interview.
Mr. Edgar is survived by his wife, Brenda, and their two children, Brad and Elizabeth.
Contributing: Mawa Iqbal and Associated Press
