State Senator Kirk Dillard said he will balance the budget by cutting costs and growing the economy. Dupage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom said he'd force state agencies to justify their expenses each year. State Senator Bill Brady called for a clean break from political bosses. Dan Proft wants mandatory spending caps. Adam Andrzejewski blamed Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and House Speaker Mike Madigan for what he called "riding Illinois into a ditch."
Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna and former attorney general Jim Ryan were not there.
All seven Republicans running for Illinois governor are squaring off in a debate. Thursday night in a debate hosted by the Illinois Republican Party in Chicago.
The primary is Feb. 2.
Republicans want to take back the governor's office that Democrats have held since 2002 when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was first elected.
Gov. Pat Quinn replaced Blagojevich when he was removed from office in January after being arrested on federal corruption charges.
Quinn is running for a full term.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
