Darren Bailey

PEORIA, Ill. — Darren Bailey, a far-right state senator who was the beneficiary of an extraordinary effort by Democrats to help his candidacy, has won the ...

Mr. Bailey had two patrons in the primary: Mr. Pritzker, whose relentless advertising campaign bashed Mr. Irvin while highlighting Mr. Bailey’s conservative credentials, and Richard Uihlein, the Chicago-area megadonor who has supported an array of far-right Republican candidates. One of his first legislative proposals once in office was a bill to remove Chicago from the state. “Life’s a lot different now for Illinois than it was then. More than $100 million has been spent on television advertising in the primary. And I think people realize that.” A farmer from Southern Illinois who was endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump at a rally on Saturday, Mr. Bailey was virtually unknown in state politics before he upset a Republican incumbent in a 2018 primary for a State House district. In that time, he gathered sufficient support from conservative voters aligned with Mr. Trump to survive a $50 million primary campaign from Mayor Richard C. Irvin of Aurora, who was backed by the hedge fund executive Kenneth Griffin, and a $12.6 million campaign from Jesse Sullivan, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist who relocated to Petersburg, his Central Illinois hometown, to run for governor. Mr. Bailey, 56, began his campaign for governor in February 2021, a month into his State Senate tenure. PEORIA, Ill. — Darren Bailey, a far-right state senator who was the beneficiary of an extraordinary effort by Democrats to help his candidacy, has won the Republican primary for governor in Illinois. The Illinois governor’s race is on track to become the most expensive campaign for a nonpresidential office in American history. Mr. Bailey, whose crushing victory was called by The Associated Press on Tuesday, topped a field of five other Republicans in the contest to oppose Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire Democrat who invested $35 million to influence the G.O.P. primary. Darren Bailey, a far-right state senator, will be the Republican nominee for Illinois governor.

Illinois Republicans nominated state Sen. Darren Bailey to take on incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the fall election.

But unlike Bailey and his four other rivals, Irvin avoided talking about abortion or saying whether he voted for Trump, focusing instead on issues such as crime in Chicago and legislation signed by Pritzker that he said made policing harder. The race was called for Bailey with about 33% of votes counted. He said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother. Irvin also argued that he was the only GOP candidate who could beat Pritzker in November because he could win votes from Republicans, independents and some Democrats. Bailey rejected the idea that he cannot win and criticized “establishment Republicans” for contributing to decades of mismanagement in the state. Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, is already a heavy favorite to win a second term in November. But he and the Democratic Governors Association spent heavily to help Bailey win the GOP contest, even bankrolling ads noting he is “100% pro-life.”

Bailey dominated a six-candidate field — including Irvin, who was boosted by a hefty haul of $50 million in campaign cash from Chicago hedge fund billionaire ...

The campaign sought to look ahead to a general election against Pritzker while underplaying Bailey’s imminent danger. “His proven success in lowering taxes, addressing crime, creating jobs and taking on struggles facing Illinois families offered an encouraging and stark alternative to J.B. Pritzker’s agenda for Illinois. “I wish Darren Bailey well as he moves onto the general election.” Bailey spent one term in the Illinois House before moving to the state Senate last year. And Bailey announced his run back in February 2021, about 11 months before Irvin jumped in the race. In the end, Bailey had multiple factors on his side, including a rising faction of far-right conservatives in the state, millions in attack ad dollars from Democrats — and actual political hustle. They were called “patriots” by speakers and cheered to a video of Trump’s endorsement at a Mendon rally over the weekend. I’m proud to be a family farmer, and I love to remind people what farmers do. The voices of working families, parents, taxpayers, law enforcement and everyday citizens, voices from the farms, the suburbs, the city of Chicago and every place in between. “Throughout this campaign, people have referred to me as a downstate farmer,” Bailey said, chuckling. Let’s hear it up for Chicago tonight!” said Bailey, who characterized the city as a “hellhole” during his campaign. And they cheered any time the reversal of Roe v.

The two lawmakers have been at odds for years, with their hostilities hitting a peak during the pandemic as Bailey fought Pritzker's COVID-19 safety ...

Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. Thanks for subscribing to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Bailey also refused to wear a mask while serving in the state Legislature at times. “Illinois, under no circumstance can we allow Darren Bailey anywhere near executive office,” Lightfoot said in a tweet. The Republicans fielded six challengers to Pritzker, but Bailey was a frontrunner, collecting more 50 percent of the vote in preliminary results. “Politicians time and again have tried to divide Illinoisans for political advantage.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, left, and Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey will face off in the Illinois governor's race this November.

Downstate Sen. Darren Bailey has won the Republican nomination for Illinois governor, beating Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and 5 others.

"We would have the most right-wing slate we've ever had going into the general election in Illinois, and I don't think that's good for the Republican Party in Illinois," Edgar said. Wade, and he leaned heavily into that momentum, trying to pick up Republican votes in the Chicago area. He did not mention Bailey in his speech but instead spoke about the future of Illinois and Pritzker. "We would have the most right-wing slate we've ever had going into the general election in Illinois, and I don't think that's good for the Republican Party in Illinois," Edgar said. But, if this governor is correct, and if he does easily prevail, we as citizens must rise up," Irvin said. "Illinois is a lot worse off than it was four years ago, it's a lot worse off than it was 40 years ago and it's time for something different." Wade, and he leaned heavily into that momentum, trying to pick up Republican votes in the Chicago area. So, I think it's going to be pretty amazing what's going to happen," he said. He did not mention Bailey in his speech but instead spoke about the future of Illinois and Pritzker. But, if this governor is correct, and if he does easily prevail, we as citizens must rise up," Irvin said. "Illinois is a lot worse off than it was four years ago, it's a lot worse off than it was 40 years ago and it's time for something different." So, I think it's going to be pretty amazing what's going to happen," he said.

Hundreds of Bailey supporters who gathered were a group of Illinoisans not often in a position to claim victory in statewide races, even in Republican ...

Renee Koehne of Collinsville said Bailey is for the same “godly principles” she is. Bailey, along with other statewide officials and supporters attending the event, pitched themselves as contrary to the political establishment of both parties. People in the ecstatic crowd roared when a video of former President Donald Trump endorsing the GOP gubernatorial primary winner was played on a big screen. They also liked his positions opposing abortion and favoring gun rights. As news outlets called the race for Bailey, members of the crowd grew louder, cheering and chanting “Bailey, Bailey” and “We want Bailey.” “We’re going to send the message to the political establishment on both sides of the party that the Republican Party is the party of the people,” said state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City. Wilhour was one of nine legislators who earlier this year were voted off the House floor for refusing to wear masks in the midst of the pandemic and in compliance with House rules at the time.

The tradition of Illinois gubernatorial nominees releasing their tax returns dates back to 1976, at least. But Bailey told the Sun-Times, “Right now, ...

Bailey famously called Chicago a “hellhole” during a televised debate and once introduced a House resolution to separate Chicago from the rest of the state. Whatever he would want to do, I would welcome,” Bailey said of Trump. “But at the end of the day, it’s Darren Bailey who the people are going to vote to elect. “I don’t care how much this man spends,” Bailey said. Pritzker has already dubbed Bailey “Donald Trump’s candidate,” but Bailey said he hasn’t had any talks with the former president about further support in the general election. He sent workers home.” “I don’t care what Gov. [J.B.] Pritzker’s tax records are,” Bailey told the Sun-Times. “I definitely see an out-of-touch and elitist billionaire that’s completely out of touch with the people. If I turn this campaign to someone else, then this campaign becomes about something else then these values and desire to restore Illinois.” “So, we will remain and retain control. He kept children at home. And I think that’s going to win the day.” But the voluntary practice provides accountability for a statewide officeholder who will ultimately collect and manage state tax dollars — and also sheds light on potential conflicts. During that campaign, Rauner lit into Pritzker for being a billionaire, but reporting just $16 million in income.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker used his considerable financial resources to help set up a November showdown with State Sen. Darren Bailey, but as the state ...

I love this state, and I love being governor.” “We’re just trying to make sure people know what I stand for.” If Tuesday’s primary is any indication, then the battle lines that will emerge in November will be clear. I love this job. Democrats will likely run on a progressive platform, arguing strongly against the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Pritzker, who easily cruised to the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary, nevertheless has already spent $129 million on his reelection campaign.

With Darren Bailey's nomination as the Republican candidate for governor to challenge Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois voters will have a choice for ...

He recounts his disdain for state Rep. Avery Bourne of Morrisonville, Irvin’s running mate, for chastising him for not wearing a mask in the makeshift House floor at the Bank of Springfield Center as required by House rules during the height of the pandemic in May 2020. In addition to Irvin’s loss, the slate’s candidates in competitive primaries for attorney general and secretary of state also were defeated. “Friends, the funny thing is these same people said that we couldn’t win the primary.” This is somebody who does not believe in standing up for the city of Chicago, thinks it ought to be a separate state from the rest of Illinois. This is somebody who called Chicago a ‘hellhole.’ ” But his victory gives those conservatives who have been on the outside looking in an opportunity to take control, sending the Illinois GOP significantly further rightward, a shove helped by Trump’s presidency. While Irvin is an adept retail campaigner, his campaign offered few opportunities for him to work the stump. Pritzker’s also supported other laws that allow taxpayer funding for abortions and remove a requirement of parental notification for minors seeking the procedure. Bailey’s victory was assisted in part by Pritzker and the Pritzker-backed Democratic Governors Association, with millions of dollars in ads and mailers asking Republicans if the state senator was “too conservative for Illinois.” Voters delivered an answer. He also opposes gun regulation and wants a repeal of the state’s firearm owner’s identification card. They want to distract us into believing that same-sex marriage, Black history, Disney World and library books are more of a threat to our children than AR-15s and ‘ghost guns,’ " he said. “I believe deeply in the fundamental rights of every person to live a life of their own design with accessible health care, quality education, safe schools, clean air, reproductive freedom and civil rights,” Pritzker said. I’m going to stand up and name the problem.”