Illinois Gubernatorial Race

The Illinois 2026 primaries set a rematch between Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and former state Sen. Darren Bailey, who topped Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick to win the Republican nod. Pritzker used the cycle to flex national clout—focusing his remarks more on President Trump than Bailey, positioning himself as a top 2028 contender and actively backing Juliana Stratton with at least $5 million to a supporting group—while Bailey has softened his rhetoric since 2022, even objecting to a GOP social‑media jab at Pritzker’s weight, and is proposing a new Illinois “department of government efficiency” modeled on a federal entity linked to Elon Musk.