SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Republican candidate for Illinois governor Bruce Rauner is pledging to knock the current Democratic governor out of office and rebuild the Republican Party.

Rauner is a Winnetka businessman. He and Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn are squaring off in a nationally watched race this fall.

Rauner told a group of Republican officials in Springfield at a breakfast meeting Thursday that their work will help to restore Illinois.

Rauner says Democracy “doesn’t work on a one party basis.”

Republicans will head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds Thursday afternoon for a rally. Democrats had their day at the state fair on Wednesday.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)