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Bailey winds down what could be his final campaign

Bailey winds down what could be his final campaign

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey participates in an interview September 29, 2026 at the Capitol Media Group studios in Springfield. Photo: Saga Communications/Will Stevenson


SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Darren Bailey, the second-time Republican nominee for governor, says it just may be a life of farm and family for him if he loses again. Bailey, a former state representative and state senator, lost the 2022 gubernatorial election to JB Pritzker and lost a Congressional primary two years ago to U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro).

“I fully anticipate winning this, because I think people are tired,” Bailey said during a visit Tuesday to the Capitol Media Group studios, “but whatever that is, whatever day it is, we live life expectancy, and whatever doors open, we’ll walk through it if we feel called.”

Bailey is trying again to spread his message that Pritzker is all wrong. Education is an example.

“There’s over $8 billion sitting in Washington, D.C., that could come out here and help education in general,” Bailey said. “We hear Pritzker talk about that (President Donald) Trump will not release it. That is absolutely ridiculous. Pritzker is failing and refuses to apply for it, because if he applies for it, then he’s got to show and prove where every dollar goes, and I think he is concerned about that.”

Bailey says Pritzker has fumbled the Chicago Bears away to Indiana because the Bears could not locate him when they wanted to negotiate – and Indiana is sitting on a $5 billion surplus. If the Bears indeed give Illinois a chance, Bailey says his “I-Formation” plan would call for private financing of the new stadium, public infrastructure, a “stadium tourism district,” and negotiated property taxes tied to inflation.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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