Darren Bailey launches 2026 gubernatorial run
The article reports that Darren Bailey, a Republican and former Illinois state senator, has officially launched his second campaign for governor of Illinois, targeting the 2026 election. Bailey previously ran against incumbent Democratic Governor JB Pritzker in 2022 but was defeated. He also narrowly lost a recent Republican primary for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District. Bailey announced his campaign via a Facebook post, emphasizing his commitment to fighting for families, freedom, and the future of Illinois. His running mate is Aaron Del Mar, chairman of the Cook County Republican Party.
Bailey first gained statewide attention when he sued governor Pritzker over COVID-19 restrictions, a move criticized as a “cheap political stunt” by Pritzker. Democrats have already criticized Bailey, portraying him as an extremist aligned with former President Donald Trump’s agenda, accusing him of opposing gun violence reduction measures and supporting abortion bans. If elected, Bailey would become the first Republican governor of Illinois since bruce rauner, who left office in 2019. Despite illinois being a traditionally Democratic-leaning state, it has a history of electing Republicans as governor.
Republican former Illinois state senator launches 2026 gubernatorial run
Republican Darren Bailey launched his second Illinois gubernatorial run on Thursday.
Bailey lost to incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker (D) in 2022 while he was a state senator. He recently ran in the Republican primary for Illinois’ 12th Congressional District, but also lost narrowly to incumbent Rep. Mike Bost (R).
“I’m leaving the farm to fight for you — for your family, your freedom, and the future of Illinois. If you’re ready to restore common sense to Springfield, join our movement today,” he wrote in a Facebook post Thursday morning.
At a campaign event in Bloomington, Bailey told supporters that the “journey is going to look a lot different than it did four years ago.”
Bailey’s running mate will be Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar.
The former state senator first came to statewide prominence when he filed a lawsuit against Pritzker challenging his authority during the COVID-19 pandemic. He would go on to lose the lawsuit, but caught the attention of Pritzker, who called it a “cheap political stunt.”
Democrats are already teeing up their attacks against Bailey.
“Darren Bailey has returned for another attempt to drag Illinois backwards and bring [President] Donald Trump’s chaotic, destructive, and deeply unpopular agenda to the state. Bailey’s toxic record includes opposing sensible measures to reduce gun violence, aligning himself with the far-right, and supporting extreme plans to ban abortion,” Democratic Governors Association spokeswoman Izzi Levy told the Washington Examiner.
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“Bailey’s nothing more than Donald Trump’s puppet and has already proven why he’s too extreme to be governor,” Levy added.
If elected, Bailey would be the first Republican governor elected in the state since Bruce Rauner in 2015. While the state is otherwise known as a blue stronghold, it has elected several Republicans in recent decades. From 1977 to 2003, the GOP held the governor’s office without interruption.
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