Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, right, speaks after conceding defeat to Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) on election night. [Blue Room Stream]  

Six months ago, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin was the clear favorite for the Republican nomination for governor. He counted support from establishment Republicans and Illinois’ richest man, and his record as mayor of Illinois’ second-largest city convinced political observers he could attract independent voters to help him make a serious challenge to Gov. JB Pritzker in November.

On Tuesday night, the former front-runner went home after finishing in a distant third place with less than 15 percent of the vote.