Illinois Republican Governor-elect Bruce Rauner has visited the White House and met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Rauner was one of seven newly elected governors visiting the White House Friday for a presidential briefing. Topics included education, health care and transportation.
The Winnetka businessman is the first Republican governor elected in Obama’s home state in more than a decade. He says he has “close working relationships” with a number of senior White House officials, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Rauner told reporters that problems nationally and in Illinois must be solved on a bipartisan basis.
Rauner replaces outgoing Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. He will be sworn into office January 12th.