This did not come into fruition. However, what did come to fruition was simultaneous speculation that Democrats may bolt from their party and challenge Washington as a Republican. The Republican Party nominated Donald H. Haider, a business professor and former city budget director. Haider was formerly a Democrat. The fifth overall mayoral candidate to be a resident of Edgewater, Haider would have been the third mayor from Edgewater if he were elected (and the first since Martin H. Kennelly). Haider was endorsed by the city's Republican Party organization on December 4, 1986. He had narrowly defeated 1983 nominee Bernard Epton for the endorsement. However, despite the party endorsing Haider, Epton and Democratic state senator Jeremiah E. Joyce indicated their intentions to challenge Haider in the Republican primary. Neither ultimately ran. Instead, he was challenged by Kenneth Hurst, Chester Hornowski, and Ray Wardingly. Kenneth Hurst was the 39th Ward Republican committeeman and was also running for alderman in that ward. A self-described Reagan Republican, he ran for mayor on a wide number of social issues. Hurst opposed the Equal Rights Amendment and a gay rights ordinance by the City Council. He also opposed publicly subsidized abortions and the distribution of contraceptives in clinics at public schools. Chester Hornowski was the 35th Ward Republican committeeman, as well as a police officer. He focused his time more heavily on his coinciding aldermanic campaign, admitting he had little prospect of becoming mayor. He ran for mayor on a "law and order" platform, also pledging to end tax hikes and improve the city's schools. Ray Wardingley, an entertainer who performed as a clown under the name "Spanky the Clown", had run for mayor twice before. He promoted himself as the candidate representing "the little guy"  Haider won the primary. Vrdolyak formally received the Illinois Solidarity nomination on February 24. Independent candidate Ronald D. Bartos saw his name removed from the ballot due to issues with his petition. "Chicago First" nominee Thomas Hynes withdrew two days before the election and threw his support behind Washington's two remaining opponents. Some regarded Washington's modest margin of victory in the Democratic primary as an indicator that he would be vulnerable in the general election. Initially, Chicago First nominee Hynes polled well. He claimed he was a fresh alternative to the dirty infighting that had defined Chicago politics in recent years. Hynes also talked about being the issue-oriented candidate as opposed to some of the other candidates who allegedly talked about each other.