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 said his background as a small business owner and attorney has prepared him for the 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. "As an attorney, I've represented local governments and helped sniff out fraud and waste."
The Lake County GOP and Madison County GOP list Drew as an endorsed candidate, according to BallotReady.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Residence: Benton, Illinois
- Education: Associate degree, Rend Lake College (1995); bachelor's degree in history, Saint Louis University (1997); J.D., Saint Louis University (1999)
- Professional recognition: Named a Top 100 Attorney by The National Trial Lawyers, according to his law firm's website
- Church affiliation: Central Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois
Experience and public service
Drew has owned the Drew Law Group since 2000, according to BallotReady. He served as chairman of the board at Rend Lake College Board of Trustees from 2011 to 2013 and as an attorney for Rend Lake College starting in 2015, according to his law firm's website. He has also served as president of the Franklin County Bar Association and has been a restaurant owner, according to his firm's website and Ballotpedia.
On the issues
Government accountability and fiscal oversight
Drew said his experience in law and business has shaped his approach to government spending. He said he has represented local governments and worked in divorce law, where he dealt with "people hiding money and spending it in nefarious ways," according to his Ballotpedia questionnaire response. He said he is "ready to fight on your behalf to make Illinois a good steward of your tax dollars."
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 his campaign website.
Candidate issue responses are drawn from questionnaire answers submitted to Ballotpedia and from the candidate's campaign website via BallotReady. The Lake Forest Journal presents this profile as part of its 2026 election coverage to help voters evaluate candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.
