Dan Rutherford's public service career began following his graduation from Illinois State University as a legislative assistant in Springfield. In the GOP Primary of 1980, Rutherford coordinated a congressional district for Governor Ronald Reagan's campaign. Rutherford's work in coordinating that congressional district earned recognition from the Reagan National Campaign and he was subsequently tapped to serve as the Executive Director for the 1980 Reagan-Bush campaign.
In 1993, Rutherford was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Rutherford eventually became Assistant Republican Leader. Following 10 years of service in that body, in 2002, Rutherford was elected to represent Illinois' 53rd district in the Senate. In the Senate, Rutherford served as the ranking Republican for the Financial Institutions Committee and was a member of the Environment & Energy Committee. Senator Rutherford also served on the bi-partisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. As a lawmaker, Senator Dan Rutherford sponsored and directed legislation which changed the formula for reimbursing nursing homes for care of the elderly. The new system bases rates on the medical needs of the resident, rather than just their geographic location in the state.
Rutherford won the open seat of Illinois Treasurer. Also running were Democratic nominee Robin Kelly, Green Party Party nominee Scott K. Summers and Libertarian nominee James Pauly.
2014 Governor
On June 2, 2013, Dan Rutherford officially announced his candidacy for Governor of Illinois. His running mate was attorney Steve Kim. Rutherford lost in the 4-way Republican primary to businessman Bruce Rauner, taking 7.55% of the vote.
2014 Scandal
In February 2014, a former employee of Rutherford, Edmund Michalowski, filed a federal complaint alleging that Rutherford had sexually harassed him and had pressured him to do political work on state time. The complaint was filed just a few weeks before Rutherford was scheduled to face off against the other contenders in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Rutherford denied all allegations and charged that they were the work of his political opponent, Bruce Rauner. Rutherford vowed that he would continue on in the race A judge dismissed some of Michalowski's claims, such as Michalowski being forced to do political work on state time and Michalowski re-filed in April 2016, alleging harassment by Rutherford and four others. In November 2017, attorneys for Rutherford and Michalowski agreed that the lawsuit be "dismissed without prejudice", meaning that it could be re-filed.
Personal
Dan Rutherford has never been married. He has crewed in many Chicago-to-Mackinac Island races and is an Advanced Certified Diver. Dan Rutherford has traveled to all seven continents. His favorite food is pizza.