Republican · Former State Senator · Challenging incumbent JB Pritzker in 2026
Biography
Darren Bailey was born on August 11, 1968, and grew up on a farm in southern Illinois. He is a farmer and businessman from Xenia, Illinois, in Clay County. Bailey served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 and then in the Illinois State Senate from 2021 to 2023. He ran for governor in 2022, winning the Republican primary before losing the general election to incumbent JB Pritzker by 12.5 points. He is running again in 2026 with a repositioned campaign focused on affordability, property tax relief, and suburban outreach, having learned from his 2022 defeat.
Quick Facts
| Party | Republican |
| Office sought | Governor of Illinois |
| Running mate | Aaron Del Mar (Lt. Governor) |
| Hometown | Xenia, Illinois |
| Education | Eastern Illinois University |
| Occupation | Farmer, businessman, former state legislator |
| Prior offices | Illinois House of Representatives (2019–2021), Illinois State Senate (2021–2023) |
| 2022 election result | Lost 40.9% to 54.5% against JB Pritzker |
Policy Positions
Economy & Taxes
Bailey has made property tax relief a central plank of his 2026 campaign, arguing that Illinois homeowners are overburdened. He wants to cut and cap property taxes and reduce utility bills. He has proposed establishing a DOGE-style program to audit and cut state government spending, arguing that government inefficiency drives up costs for Illinois residents.
Public Safety
Bailey strongly opposes the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail in Illinois, and has made repealing it a signature issue of his campaign. He argues that eliminating cash bail has made Illinois communities less safe and that restoring stricter bail policies is essential to improving public safety across the state.
Immigration
Bailey supports stricter immigration enforcement and opposes sanctuary city and sanctuary state policies. He wants Illinois to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts. He has criticized Pritzker’s resistance to federal ICE operations in Illinois.
Energy & Environment
Bailey opposes the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and wants to repeal Illinois’ zero-emissions energy mandate. He argues that the clean energy transition is driving up energy costs for Illinois families and businesses and that the state should prioritize affordability over the current emissions timeline.
Reproductive Rights
Bailey has personally opposed abortion but has softened his public rhetoric on the issue in the 2026 campaign. He has noted that Illinois state law provides strong abortion protections and that as governor he would have limited ability to change them. He has avoided making abortion a central campaign issue in 2026.
Minimum Wage
Bailey has not made minimum wage a central issue of his 2026 campaign. Pritzker has accused Bailey of wanting to lower the minimum wage from its current $15 per hour level, which Bailey has not directly addressed in his campaign messaging.
Key Quotes
“Illinois families are being crushed by the highest property taxes in the nation. That ends when I am governor.” — Darren Bailey, 2025
Endorsements
- Illinois Farm Bureau PAC (2022)
- National Rifle Association (2022)
- Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (2022)
Compare Candidates
See how Darren Bailey compares to JB Pritzker on the issues: Illinois Governor 2026: Full Comparison
Candidate information is sourced from official campaign materials, public statements, and verified news reporting. WhereTheyStandUSA.org is a nonpartisan voter information resource and does not endorse any candidate. Last updated: April 2026.