Republican state Rep. Dan Ugaste, 62, of Geneva is, to our minds, one of the best Springfield lawmakers, and his peers praise him for his extensive knowledge of policy and procedure. He’s the kind of fiscal conservative this board wishes we could replicate at scale — one who offers practical ideas to address Illinois’ structural financial problems. He has proposed, for example, legislation that would use savings from pension reform to reduce school districts’ reliance on property taxes.
He’s assistant minority leader and has loads of committee responsibilities, ranging from Labor & Commerce to Higher Education, a testament to the breadth of his expertise as a legislator. Ugaste consistently votes against and criticizes excessive state spending, and has taken initiative on big issues such as keeping the Bears in Illinois and property tax relief.
Ugaste’s opponent, Ricky Rivard, accuses the incumbent of working for “the radical right,” “special interests” and “himself.” We haven’t heard much from Rivard, who presents as a progressive Democrat focused on reproductive rights, childcare, health care and education. We find his campaign rhetoric unnecessarily partisan.
One of the most challenging but essential things for Illinois voters to consider at the ballot box is differentiating between feelings about Republicans at the national level and the need for more ideological balance in Illinois. Federal politics and state-level Republicanism are not one and the same, and many Republicans here are reasonable people with policies plenty of conservatives, independents and even moderate Democrats can get behind. Ugaste is one of those.
Springfield needs intelligent conservative voices that can challenge Democratic power with substantive policy ideas and personal dignity.
Dan Ugaste is endorsed.
Read all of the Tribune Editorial Board’s endorsements for the 2026 Illinois general election here.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected].
More Top Picks Best Leather Boots For Women For Petite