Polling Average
50%40%30%20%10%0%
38.5%
6.5%
5.8%
5.0%
Illinois Republican Governor nominee?
$96.4K
MAR 24, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer State Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age60 years old (Mar 17, 1966)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundFarmer
EducationLake Land College — A.A.S./A.S. in Agricultural Production
Notable personal detailsDarren Bailey is a Republican politician and third-generation farmer from Louisville, Illinois. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives (2019–2021) and the Illinois Senate (2021–2023), and was the Republican nominee for Illinois governor in 2022. He earned an associate degree in agricultural production from Lake Land College and has been active in local education governance, including service on the North Clay Board of Education.
SourcesShowHide
ilga.govbaileyforillinois.comen.wikipedia.orgbnd.comnprillinois.orgillinoisreview.comwheretheystandusa.orgmahometdaily.commyradiolink.comwashingtonpost.comstateside.comcdn.ymaws.comsuaa.orgoig.dol.govnews.wttw.comdailyherald.comwglt.orgabc7chicago.comwifr.comwbez.orgillinoistimes.comillinoiseagle.comcbsnews.comyahoo.comipmnewsroom.orgcapitolnewsillinois.comaxios.comfoxnews.comindependent.co.uktspr.orgchicago.suntimes.comwandtv.comdemocraticgovernors.orgapnews.comassets.apnews.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgcba.ballotpedia.orgpt.wikipedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgballotready.orgnga.orgfec.govdurbin.senate.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax relief and limits on taxation, proposals to cap property tax rates, cut or temporarily reduce sales taxes (including on gas), freeze the gas tax, repeal the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act tied to higher utility costs, and conduct audits to cut state spending. Emphasizes reducing state spending and finding waste to lower tax burdens while increasing targeted state support for schools to offset property-tax caps.
Healthcare
Darren Bailey supports limiting taxpayer-funded health services and reducing state healthcare spending; he has proposed banning Medicaid funding for abortion and drafted legislation to block Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming surgery. He emphasizes smaller government roles in health policy and prioritizes budget cuts and spending freezes that would affect Medicaid and other state-funded programs.
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Immigration & Border
The candidate supports strict border enforcement including construction/completion of a southern border wall and closing the border, opposes sanctuary policies and argues immigrants who entered illegally should be deported. He has called for federal action to secure the border and criticized state spending and services for undocumented immigrants.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate is staunchly anti-abortion and describes himself as pro‑life. He has said he would allow abortion only to protect the life of the mother, opposes exceptions for rape or incest, and has pledged to end taxpayer‑funded abortions and restore parental notification requirements.
Climate & Energy
Opposes aggressive state climate policies such as the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and California-style emissions regulations, arguing they harm Illinois consumers, agriculture, and trucking and risk higher energy costs and reliability problems. Emphasizes opposition to higher gas taxes and favors policies supportive of fossil-fuel industries and energy independence over mandated rapid decarbonization.
Public Safety & Guns
The candidate opposes Illinois’ assault‑weapons restrictions and the FOID/registration requirements, identifies as a lifelong NRA supporter, and has publicly urged noncompliance with the state’s assault‑weapon registration law. He has stated he will not turn in or register firearms and frames such laws as unconstitutional infringements on the Second Amendment.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 11, 2026
Darren Bailey is back in the Illinois governor race as the Republican nominee, setting up a rematch with Gov. JB Pritzker. He has been trying to reset his image, including softening past criticism of Chicago, moving his campaign headquarters to a Chicago apartment, and saying he wants a more cooperative relationship with reporters. Bailey is also focusing on familiar campaign themes like taxes, licensing, and state spending, while facing a fundraising gap against Pritzker.
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Articles
N5NBC 5 Chicago2 months ago
Darren Bailey tries to walk back calling Chicago a ‘hellhole’
Positive
SLShaw Local Enewspapers2 months ago
GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey moves into Chicago apartment
Neutral
N5NBC 5 Chicago3 months ago
When is the Illinois governor’s race? Here’s who will face off
Neutral
DQDavenport Quad-City Times3 months ago
Illinois governor’s race will be a rematch in 2026
Neutral
Polls
Illinois Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2024Total raisedCash on hand
$640.2K
$480.1K
$320.1K
$160.0K
$0
2024
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2024
$640.2K
$1.18
$640.2K
$26.7K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements