Article snippet: In a high stakes and multi-million dollar gambit, a son of Robert F. Kennedy is taking on the heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, and an incumbent governor is pouring millions of his own money into his effort to hold on to the top job in a blue state. With over $160 million spent by both parties, the bitter and expensive Democratic and Republican primaries to move on to the general election in November have tested the boundaries of money and name recognition in the lead up to the 2018 midterm elections. Incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner has taken heat from both the left and right during his tenure, and despite pouring over $50 million of his own money into his re-election bid is facing an energetic primary challenge from conservative State Rep. Jeanne Ives. Rauner has been hindered by a budget crisis during his first term, and last week vetoed a bill passed by the Democratic-controlled state legislature that would have required all gun dealers in the state to obtain a license, a move critics say was a way to sure up support with his Republican base ahead of Tuesday. On the Democratic side, frontrunner J.B. Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain, has dominated the fundraising race, and loaned his campaign an additional $6.3 million last week, bringing his total investment in the race thus far close to $70 million, according to campaign finance records. If the current rate of spending holds, Illinois could break the current record for the most... Link to the full article to read more