Bryan Drew, a Republican attorney from Benton, is running for Illinois Comptroller in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Margaret Croke.
Drew, who has owned Drew Law Group since 2000, said he is running to bring accountability to state spending and to advocate for working families across Illinois. He said his experience as a small business owner and attorney who has represented local governments gives him the background to oversee the state's finances.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Benton, Illinois
- Education: Associate's degree, Rend Lake College (1995); bachelor's degree in history, Saint Louis University (1997); juris doctor, Saint Louis University (1999)
- Occupation: Owner, Drew Law Group (2000–present); restaurant owner
- Recognition: Named a Top 100 Attorney by The National Trial Lawyers, according to his law firm's website
- Endorsements: Madison County GOP and Lake County GOP, according to BallotReady
Experience and public service
Drew served as chairman of the board at Rend Lake College Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2013, according to his law firm's website. He also served as an attorney for Rend Lake College beginning in 2015. Drew has served as president of the Franklin County Bar Association, according to the same source.
He has been affiliated with Central Christian Church in Mt. Vernon, according to Ballotpedia.
On the issues
Government accountability and fiscal oversight
Drew said his background running a business and practicing law prepares him for the comptroller's role. "As a small business owner, I've had to find efficiencies and stretch every dollar to make payroll," Drew said in a Ballotpedia questionnaire response. He added that as an attorney he has helped identify fraud and waste in his work representing local governments.
Drew said he has also drawn on his experience in family law, where he said he has dealt with people hiding money and spending it improperly. He said he is "ready to fight on your behalf to make Illinois a good steward of your tax dollars," according to his Ballotpedia response.
Taxes and budget
Drew said he would increase transparency in state spending. "I will dig into where all the state's money is going and shine a light on it for the public," Drew said in a response posted on his campaign website. "You will be able to see exactly where your tax dollars are being spent."
He also said reducing the tax burden on working families requires forcing government to live within its means, according to the same response.
Candidate issue responses are drawn from questionnaire answers published on Ballotpedia and the candidate's campaign website. Responses reflect the candidate's own statements.
