Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says he is offended by a state lawmaker’s suggestion that Giannoulias championed auto insurance regulations for political reasons.

Before Senate Bill 714 passed on the House floor on May 27, state Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, argued that Giannoulias championed the legislation to help further his own aspirations.

“And we shouldn’t be saddling the Illinois resident who has auto insurance, has automobiles, so that somebody else can pursue an additional political office,” Keicher said.

Giannoulias highlighted the passage of SB 714 during a news conference last Thursday on Chicago’s South Side. The event was held at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Center, the same site where Giannoulias launched his office’s Driving Change campaign in July 2025 to push the legislation.

Several pastors joined Giannoulias, who is rumored to be considering a run for Chicago mayor.

The Center Square asked the secretary about Keicher’s remarks.

“Not only does that answer have unequivocally nothing to do with politics, I’m pretty thick-skinned, but I’m actually offended by that comment,” Giannoulias said.

Giannoulias said the insurance industry is powerful and Keicher is an insurance salesman, but the legislation passed in spite of their efforts.

“He’s gotta do what he has to do. We were able to pass this bill against our auto insurance salesman who apparently is also a member of the House,” Giannoulias said.

The Center Square asked Giannoulias if taxpayers dollars were spent on the campaign.

“None of the pastors got paid. None of our community organizers got paid. The meetings that we held statewide didn’t cost us gas money because we did them via Zoom, so we did everything we could to bring important attention to this issue, so the answer is no,” Giannoulias said.

The Secretary of State’s office said over 900 Illinoisans participated in virtual town halls to learn more about the issue and share their stories. All eight of the online events were focused on larger metropolitan areas around the state.

Keicher said the secretary’s actions speak for themselves to anyone familiar with how the bill discussion transpired and the greater context.

“I will never back down from speaking the truth on issues I’m professionally knowledgeable about, nor should others in the Illinois General Assembly who come from their respective fields of work experience,” Keicher said in a statement to The Center Square.

The Sycamore Republican said he and the secretary disagree on this issue, with the impact of the bill “likely causing higher auto insurance premiums for millions of Illinoisans” after implementation.

Keicher said Giannoulias could lower rates by applying license renewal tests to people who have had tickets or accidents.

Giannoulias said he did not know when Gov. J.B. Pritzker might sign the legislation, but the governor has previously expressed his support of SB 714 and similar legislation to regulate homeowners insurance.

“I look forward to signing these common-sense protections into law,” the governor said in a statement released shortly after the bills passed.