SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn deflected blame for state hiring problems Tuesday, saying agencies must follow anti-patronage hiring rules — even when the candidates are those the governor’s office favors.

The Democrat, locked in one of the nation’s most-watched election races for governor against Republican Bruce Rauner, responded to questions in Chicago about an investigative report released Friday. It found the Illinois Department of Transportation circumvented clout-busting regulations and improperly hired 255 people to mid-level “staff assistant” positions in the past 10 years.