Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, a popular two-term Republican who guided the state through significant financial challenges in the 1990s, died Sunday at age 79 from complications related to pancreatic cancer treatment. Edgar had publicly disclosed his aggressive cancer diagnosis in February 2025.
Edgar’s family confirmed his death in a statement Sunday, expressing gratitude for the support shown during his final months. Despite his failing health, the former governor remained active in political circles until the end, making public appearances as recently as August 2025 at his Edgar Fellows program in Urbana, though he required an emergency room visit during that gathering.
Serving as Illinois’ 38th governor from 1991 to 1999, Edgar took office when the state faced hundreds of millions of dollars in debt and was paying bills months late. The moderate Republican implemented significant budget cuts during a national recession, including layoffs and reductions in popular programs. He also fulfilled a key campaign promise by making a temporary income tax surcharge permanent, providing stable funding for public schools.
Edgar told The Associated Press in 1998 that “it wasn’t always pretty how it was done, but we got a lot done.” He noted that his administration tackled tough issues and achieved most of their goals, even if the process was sometimes difficult.
Born in small-town Oklahoma, Edgar grew up in Charleston, Illinois, and attended Eastern Illinois University, where he served as student body president. His political involvement began early – he ran Dwight D. Eisenhower’s 1952 campaign in his elementary school’s mock election while in first grade, cementing his lifelong Republican status despite having Democratic parents.
Edgar’s political career began with an internship and staff position with Republican legislative leaders before his election to the Illinois House in 1976 at age 30. During his second legislative term, Governor Jim Thompson appointed him as legislative liaison, then as secretary of state in 1981, a position he held for a decade before becoming governor in 1991.
As governor, Edgar easily won reelection, including victories in heavily Democratic Cook County where Chicago is located. His moderate approach and fiscal management earned him bipartisan support and high approval ratings throughout his tenure. He surprised political observers in 1997 by announcing he would not seek a third term despite his popularity, and he repeatedly declined later attempts by Republicans to draft him for other offices, including U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races.
Edgar’s reputation as a clean, effective leader was enhanced after his two immediate successors, George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich, both served prison terms for corruption. His lieutenant governor, Bob Kustra, characterized Edgar as a Republican whose integrity guided his time in office and who managed one of the most successful periods in Illinois state government.
In recent years, Edgar grew uncomfortable with the Republican Party’s rightward shift and became a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. He joined the “Republicans for Harris” campaign supporting Vice President Kamala Harris‘ unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid, demonstrating his willingness to cross party lines.
After leaving office, Edgar remained active in public service, teaching and serving as president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. He headed a bipartisan program developing future leaders from across Illinois and continued making public appearances well into 2025 despite his declining health.
Current Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, announced that flags across the state would fly at half-staff in Edgar’s honor. Pritzker praised Edgar’s commitment to reaching across the aisle and described him as a friend and mentor. Former Democratic Governor Pat Quinn also praised Edgar as a good and decent man who cared deeply about Illinois residents.
Edgar’s death follows that of his immediate successor, George Ryan, who died in May 2025 at age 91. Edgar is survived by his wife and two children. His family indicated that funeral arrangements would be announced in the coming days.
During a May 28, 2025, event at the Illinois State Library in Springfield, state leaders honored Edgar’s commitment to literacy and government processes. A reading room was dedicated in his honor at the facility he helped fund during his tenure as secretary of state. Pritzker noted at that event that Edgar’s philosophy could be summarized in his well-known quote about the best politics being good government.
