Darren Bailey, the former state senator and Clay County farmer who became a household name in Illinois politics during the pandemic, is gearing up for another run at the governor’s mansion. According to Capitol News Illinois and confirmed by several other outlets, Bailey intends to launch his second bid for governor in 2026, setting the stage for a high-profile Republican primary and a potential rematch with incumbent Governor JB Pritzker.
Bailey’s intention to run was confirmed by sources close to his campaign on September 9, 2025, and a formal announcement is expected next week. If all goes as anticipated, Bailey will officially become the most recognizable Republican in the race—a position he also held in 2022 when he clinched the GOP nomination with a decisive 57% of the primary vote. That year, his campaign was indirectly boosted by Governor Pritzker himself, who ran ads labeling Bailey as “too conservative” for Illinois—a description that only seemed to endear him further to Republican primary voters, according to Capitol News Illinois.
But the general election told a different story. In November 2022, Bailey faced off against Pritzker and lost by a significant margin. Pritzker secured 55% of the vote to Bailey’s 42.6%, a 13-point gap that the Associated Press called just moments after the polls closed. Pritzker’s campaign, bolstered by millions of dollars and a strong Democratic turnout, proved too much for Bailey, despite financial backing from billionaire Dick Uihlein and an endorsement from then-President Donald Trump.
Bailey’s political journey didn’t stop there. In 2024, he challenged U.S. Rep. Mike Bost in a heated Republican primary for a downstate congressional seat, only to come up short by about 2,700 votes. In a twist that surely stung, Trump endorsed Bost over Bailey in that contest, a departure from his previous support. Yet, Bailey’s resilience seems undiminished. As Capitol News Illinois noted, he’s ready to take another shot at the state’s top job, aiming to rally conservatives and disaffected voters alike.
Speculation is swirling about Bailey’s choice of running mate. Multiple sources, including NBC Chicago and WTVO, report that Bailey is expected to enlist Aaron Del Mar, the recently re-elected Cook County Republican Party Chair, as his lieutenant governor pick. Del Mar, who previously ran for the same office in 2022 alongside Gary Rabine and received 6.5% of the vote, brings both political experience and business acumen to the ticket. He’s also served as Palatine Township’s highway commissioner and sits on the Illinois GOP’s State Central Committee.
Bailey’s 2022 campaign was marked by a hardline stance on crime and public safety, including sharp criticism of the SAFE-T Act and pointed attacks on Chicago, which he infamously called a “hellhole.” Yet, that messaging struggled to resonate statewide. Democrats, galvanized by the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, centered their campaigns on abortion rights and painted Bailey’s positions as out of step with Illinois voters. The result? Pritzker cruised to a second term, and Bailey was left to regroup.
Now, as Bailey prepares for another run, it’s not entirely clear what message he’ll bring to voters in 2026. In recent weeks, he’s taken to Facebook—his preferred platform for communicating with supporters—to criticize Pritzker’s record and growing national profile. He’s accused the governor of neglecting Illinois in favor of building a presidential campaign for 2028, a charge that’s become a rallying cry for his base. On September 8, 2025, Bailey wrote, “In 2026, we have the chance to stop him. But it will take ALL of us. Every Illinoisan who knows we deserve better. Together, we can end JB’s presidential ambitions before they even begin and finally turn Illinois around.”
Bailey’s path to the Republican nomination is far from uncontested. The primary field is already taking shape, with DuPage County Sheriff Jim Mendrick, businessman Joe Severino, and conservative writer Ted Dabrowski having formed committees to run for governor. Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner has also signaled he’s considering a bid, making for a crowded and potentially fractious GOP contest. According to WTVO, all eyes are on the March 17, 2026, primary, where the party’s direction—and its standard-bearer—will be decided.
Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker is seeking a rare third term. His tenure has been marked by ambitious policy initiatives, national fundraising, and growing speculation about a possible White House run in 2028. For Democrats, Pritzker’s re-election campaign is both a test of his enduring popularity and a potential springboard to the national stage. For Republicans, it’s an opportunity to challenge a leader they see as increasingly distracted by presidential ambitions.
The 2026 primary, therefore, isn’t just about who will lead Illinois—it’s also a referendum on the state’s political direction and its role in the national conversation. Bailey’s supporters are eager to see him take another shot at the governorship, believing that his outsider credentials and rural roots can galvanize the party’s base. Critics, however, point to his previous defeats and question whether his brand of conservatism can win statewide in a blue-leaning state.
As the campaign season heats up, the field remains fluid. Candidates must submit their petitions to the Illinois State Board of Elections by the end of October 2025, a deadline that will solidify the race. Until then, speculation will continue—about running mates, campaign strategies, and the ever-present question of whether Bailey can overcome the obstacles that tripped him up three years ago.
One thing is certain: the 2026 Illinois governor’s race is shaping up to be a lively, unpredictable contest. With Bailey’s official announcement just around the corner and a primary field that’s anything but settled, voters across the state are in for a political season full of twists, turns, and—perhaps—surprises.
As the days tick down to the formal kickoff, all eyes are on Springfield, Chicago, and everywhere in between. Illinois, it seems, is once again at the center of a political story that’s bigger than any one candidate or campaign.
