Darren Bailey, a Republican from Xenia, Illinois, is running for governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democratic candidate J.B. Pritzker and Independent Collin Corbett.
Bailey won the March 2026 Republican primary with Cook County Chairman Aaron del Mar as his running mate, according to his Wikipedia entry. He was also the 2022 Republican nominee for governor.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Hometown: Xenia, Illinois
- Born: March 17, 1966, in Louisville, Illinois
- Family: Married to Cindy Stortzum. Four children and multiple grandchildren.
- Education: High school diploma, North Clay High School; associate's degree in agricultural production, Lake Land College (1986)
- Occupation: Bailey says he is a third-generation farmer who operates Bailey Family Farm with his sons. He and his wife also run a private Christian school.
- Endorsements: Madison County GOP, Lake County GOP, Illinois Right to Life, Illinois Family Action
Experience and public service
Bailey served in the Illinois House of Representatives for District 109 from 2019 to 2021, then in the Illinois State Senate for District 55 from 2021 to 2023. He served as minority spokesperson on the Senate Agriculture Committee. He was the 2022 Republican nominee for governor and a 2024 candidate in the U.S. House District 12 Republican primary.
Before entering state politics, Bailey served on the North Clay Unit 25 Board of Education, where he held the role of president.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Bailey's responses on his campaign website and through BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own stated views.
Taxes and budget
Bailey says he would fight to lower income and property taxes, cut government spending and bring what he calls "real fiscal responsibility" to Springfield. He has called for a property tax task force to develop reduction proposals. On his campaign site, Bailey states, "No family should ever pay more in property taxes than their mortgage—but in Illinois, countless families do. That's unacceptable."
He opposes tax increases, arguing the state should instead adopt business-friendly policies to attract jobs.
Criminal justice and public safety
Bailey says he would stand with law enforcement and provide officers with the tools, training and support they need. He says he would hold violent criminals accountable and crack down on repeat offenders.
Education
Bailey says every child in Illinois deserves access to high-quality education regardless of zip code. He has proposed cutting the number of Illinois school districts in half. Bailey says the consolidation would save schools nearly $130 million to $170 million annually in administrative costs. He estimates it could conservatively save $3 billion to $4 billion in pension costs over 30 years.
Guns
Bailey says he supports Second Amendment protections. On his campaign site, he states he will be "a strong advocate for our right to bear arms."
Abortion
Bailey describes himself as pro-life. His campaign site lists "fighting for the unborn" among his priorities.
Bailey also says he supports term limits for state legislators.
Candidate responses were collected through BallotReady and the candidate's campaign website. The Evanston Wire presents this profile as part of its 2026 election coverage to help voters understand the candidates on the ballot.
