Illinois governor 2026

Compare candidates running in this Illinois federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Darren Lee Bailey

Party: Republican

Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker

Party: Democrat

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governor

Illinois governor

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 10, 2026
safe d— Cook Political Report; Ballotpedia ratings; Illinois state Democratic lean (72.8% in Solid Democratic counties as of 2024)

Illinois is a solidly Democratic state (voted D in last three presidential cycles). Pritzker leads Darren Bailey 54.3% to 34% in head-to-head polling. The race reflects broader national tensions over crime, taxation, immigration enforcement, and Trump administration policies, making it a bellwether for Democratic governor strength in blue states.

Darren Lee BaileyR
Jay Robert "JB" PritzkerD

Summary

Darren Bailey is a third-generation farmer, former Illinois state representative (2019-2021) and state senator (2021-2023) from rural Clay County (Xenia area). He is the Republican nominee for governor in 2026, seeking a rematch against incumbent Pritzker after losing by 12.5 percentage points in 2022. Bailey gained prominence during COVID-19 for challenging Governor Pritzker's mask mandates and business closures. He is described by news outlets as holding far-right political views, opposes abortion rights, and has criticized Pritzker on taxes, government spending, public safety, and affordability. In his 2026 campaign, Bailey has pivoted toward suburban voters and claims to have moderated his tone after a family tragedy in October 2025.

JB Pritzker is the 43rd Governor of Illinois, serving since January 14, 2019. A billionaire businessman and member of the Hyatt hotel fortune Pritzker family, he is seeking his third term in 2026, which would make him the first Democratic governor in Illinois history to complete two full terms. His administration has focused on fiscal stabilization (nine credit rating upgrades, balanced budgets, elimination of multi-billion-dollar bill backlog), progressive policy agenda (reproductive rights, gun control, minimum wage increases, clean energy), and confrontation with Trump administration policies (immigration enforcement, tariffs, federal funding cuts).

View Darren Lee Bailey's Full Profile →View Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker's Full Profile →

Campaign Promises

Economy
  • Reduce government spending and cut taxes
  • Fix affordability and stop outmigration
Public Safety
  • Make Illinois safe again by addressing crime
Education
  • Improve education through parental control and traditional curriculum
Economy
  • Tackle the affordability crisis
Healthcare
  • Continue to protect access to reproductive health care
Education
  • Invest in education

Key Issue Positions

Abortion
Opposes abortion rights; supports statewide ban except when mother's life in danger
As state legislator, voted against abortion rights measures. Praised Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Opposes abortion in cases of rape or incest.
Crime and Public Safety
Strongly opposes SAFE-T Act and sanctuary policies; demands law-and-order approach
Made mask mandate challenges and anti-lockdown stance central to 2022 campaign. Wants to repeal SAFE-T Act, end no-cash-bail policy, oppose sanctuary laws, and increase law enforcement cooperation with ICE.
Immigration
Opposes sanctuary laws and immigration protections; wants ICE cooperation
Criticized Pritzker's opposition to Trump immigration enforcement. Wants Illinois to cooperate with ICE and end policies protecting undocumented immigrants.
Education and Parental Rights
Supports school choice, charter schools, homeschooling; opposes gender-inclusive policies
Wants parents to control curriculum, supports gender-specific bathrooms and sports, opposes LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, emphasizes core academics.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Opposed mask mandates and business closures; sued Governor
In April 2020, sued Pritzker over stay-at-home order; judge granted temporary restraining order (applied only to Bailey). Pritzker called it a 'cheap political stunt.' Removed from House floor May 20, 2020 for refusing mask.
Reproductive Rights
Strong support for abortion access; codified right to choose into state law before Roe overturned
Signed 2019 Reproductive Health Act and 2023 abortion rights protections. Made Illinois a safe haven for out-of-state abortion access.
Clean Energy and Climate
Strong environmental leadership; supports nuclear power expansion
Signed Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (2021). In 2026, signed Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act lifting nuclear moratorium. Executive order to expedite new nuclear plants by 2033.
Crime and Public Safety
Increased funding for violence prevention and police, but voters remain critical
Increased Illinois State Police funding, doubled violence interruption investment, expanded mental health services. Yet 58.9% of voters disapprove of his crime handling (November 2025).
Immigration Enforcement
Actively opposes Trump administration ICE enforcement; declared Illinois safe haven for undocumented immigrants
Signed December 2025 laws limiting ICE cooperation. Created Illinois Accountability Commission to document alleged federal agent abuses. Directed $20 million to food banks for SNAP gap. Critics cite $2.5B cost of immigrant services.
Taxation and Fiscal Policy
Defends tax increases as necessary for investment; balanced budgets without progressive income tax
Failed 2020 graduated income tax constitutional amendment (58M personal spending). Illinois Policy claims 50+ tax hikes since 2019. Pritzker touts balanced budgets and credit upgrades.

Top Donors

Dick Uihlein (Billionaire Businessman)
$50,000,000+Individual/Super PAC
Uihlein provided over $50 million in support to Bailey's 2022 gubernatorial campaign.

No donor data available.

Contradictions

Claim: Bailey stated Chicago is a 'hellhole' in 2022 campaign
Contradiction: In 2026 campaign, Bailey is emphasizing a different approach to Chicago, focusing on suburbs and softening tone. He acknowledged past messaging was 'edgy' and committed to building relationships with Chicago voters.
Claim: Pritzker promised to make Illinois affordable with tax relief
Contradiction: Illinois Policy Institute reports over 50 tax hikes since 2019; property taxes rose nearly $4 billion (2019-2022); 61.5% of voters disapprove of tax handling (Nov 2025 poll)

What Opponents Say

Governor JB Pritzker

Bailey is 'too conservative' for Illinois; his 2022 loss (55% to 42%) shows voters rejected his far-right ideology

Pritzker funded ads in 2022 that subtly targeted GOP base by asserting Bailey was 'too conservative.' Pritzker has continued to criticize Bailey's candidacy in 2026.

Ted Dabrowski (2026 GOP Primary Opponent)

Bailey is 'a disaster in the suburbs' and performed poorly there in 2022 (losing by 20+ percentage points), making him unelectable statewide

Dabrowski's 2026 primary campaign emphasized Bailey's 2022 suburban underperformance as evidence he cannot win a general election.

Darren Bailey

Pritzker's billionaire status prevents him from understanding working families' struggles; he has made Illinois unaffordable and unsafe.

Bailey emphasizes that as a farmer he understands economic hardship better than a billionaire. Points to tax increases, crime concerns, and outmigration.

Ted Dabrowski

Pritzker's 'see things the way he wants to see them' rather than facing reality of Illinois decline; high taxes, outmigration, and below-average economic growth.

Dabrowski, conservative activist, argues Pritzker misrepresents Illinois' true fiscal and economic condition.

Endorsements

Donald Trumpindividual

No endorsements listed.