"America's Fittest Congressman" Considering Gubernatorial Run

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 30, 2011 11:00PM

Aaron Schock has had a rapid rise in politics, going from being a write-in candidate for Peoria District 151 School Board to freshman Congressman and Men's Health cover boy. Now comes a report from Crain's Chicago Business' Greg Hinz that the 31-year-old Schock may be interested in running for governor.

Political analysts long believed Schock had eyes on rising in the House of Representatives or even running for Senate, should Dick Durbin decide not to run in 2014. Hinz cites unnamed sources as saying Schock is interested in the Governor's Mansion. A Schock spokesman told Hinz that the congressman has no current plans beyond representing the 18th Congressional District.

Schock chief of staff Dan Shearer told the Peoria Journal Star the speculation comes with the territory.

“As still the youngest member and with the fast start he got off to in the House, his future there is unlimited,” Shearer said. “As with most jobs, when you do it well, people will look to you for other positions down the road.”

A Schock campaign for governor in 2014 could be just the tonic for the Illinois GOP. He could energize the party, shake it to its core, and have potential Republican gubernatorial candidates such as State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and State Sen. Bill Brady reconsider their own aspirations. Rutherford is believed to be mulling his own run, while Brady hasn't given up the ghost.