Illinois GOP governor candidate slammed for this 'cowardly,' 'homophobic' attack ad

An Illinois Republican running for governor released an ad mocking transgender people, immigrants and feminists, and the state GOP has demanded an apology and called for her to take it off the air, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The ad from Republican primary challenger Jeanne Ives was an attack on Gov. Bruce Rauner, who Ives is trying to unseat.

The state representative's campaign was attempting to attack Rauner’s credentials as a conservative, citing his policy choices on transgender rights, abortion and illegal immigration.

Here is the ad, titled, “Thank you, Bruce Rauner:

The ad’s attacks

On transgender rights, the ad featured a male actor in a dress saying “Thank you for signing legislation that lets me use the girls bathroom.”

Rauner signed a law in August allowing transgender people to change the gender on their birth certificates without proof of a surgical operation.

On immigration, an actor in a hoodie wearing a bandana said, “Thank you Bruce Rauner for opposing law enforcement and making Illinois a sanctuary state for illegal immigrant criminals.”

Rauner signed a law in August preventing law enforcement from detaining someone based only on legal immigration status.

On abortion, a woman wearing a pink protest hat thanked the governor for making Illinois families “pay for my abortions.”

Rauner signed a law expanding abortion coverage by Medicaid and state employee health insurance.

The ad also criticized Rauner’s policy on public school funding.

Chicago Teachers Union spokeswoman Chris Geovanis wouldn't respond in detail to the content of the ad, saying “we’re not going to dignify this racist, sexist, homophobic piece of crap with a response.”

Illinois GOP responds

Tim Schneider, Illinois GOP chairman: “There is no place in the Illinois Republican Party for rhetoric that attacks our fellow Illinoisans based on their race, gender or humanity. Rep. Ives’ campaign ad does not reflect who we are as the Party of Lincoln and as proud residents of our great and diverse state. She should pull down the ad and immediately apologize to the Illinoisans who were negatively portrayed in a cowardly attempt to stoke political division."

Schneider is an ally of Rauner, the target of the ad.

Ives stands by the ad

Ives’ campaign stood by the ad, saying it was a “fair and accurate representation” of Rauner’s policy choices and their effects.

“The ad represents Gov. Rauner’s chosen constituents based on the policy choices he made. Those Republican primary voters who don’t know of Rauner’s betrayals of conservatives need to know. Now they will,” a campaign statement read.