Darren Bailey, a Republican from Xenia, Illinois, is running for governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat J.B. Pritzker and independent candidate Collin Corbett.
Bailey won the March 2026 Republican primary with Cook County Chairman Aaron del Mar as his running mate, according to his Wikipedia biography. 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 said he is a third-generation farmer who operates Bailey Family Farm with his sons, according to his campaign website. He and his wife also run a private Christian school.
Experience and public service
Bailey served as a state representative for Illinois House District 109 from 2019 to 2021 and as a state senator for District 55 from 2021 to 2023. During his Senate tenure, he served as minority spokesperson for the Agriculture Committee.
He also served as a board member and president of the North Clay Unit 25 Board of Education. In 2024, he ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House in Illinois' 12th Congressional District.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Bailey's responses on his campaign website and through BallotReady. All statements reflect the candidate's own words or claims.
Taxes and budget
Bailey said he would fight to lower income and property taxes and cut wasteful government spending. He called for a legislative property tax task force to develop reduction proposals, saying that cutting property taxes should not be a "piecemeal solution."
He said families should not pay more in property taxes than their mortgage and argued that raising taxes hurts the state's ability to compete economically.
Education
Bailey said every child in Illinois deserves access to high-quality education regardless of zip code. He proposed cutting the number of Illinois school districts in half. Bailey said the move would save schools $130 million to $170 million annually in administrative costs and $3 billion to $4 billion in pension costs over 30 years.
Criminal justice and public safety
Bailey said he would work to hold violent criminals accountable and crack down on repeat offenders. He said he would back law enforcement with the tools, training and support officers need.
Second Amendment
Bailey said he would be a strong advocate for the right to bear arms, saying constitutional rights are "constantly under assault."
Abortion
Bailey described his position as pro-life. His campaign website lists "fighting for the unborn" among his priorities.
Candidate positions were collected from Bailey's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire responses. This profile was compiled from public sources and candidate-provided materials.
The general election is Nov. 3, 2026. Voters can find ballot and registration information through their county clerk's office.
