Chicago, IL — Tomorrow, Governor JB Pritzker and Darren Bailey will take the debate stage. Gov. Pritzker will highlight his record of delivering for Illinois families and lay out his vision for a third term. Darren Bailey will try and distort his record and mislead voters. Here’s what he doesn’t want to talk about.
Bailey Embraces Trump
Donald Trump endorsed Darren Bailey in 2022 and again in 2026. Last month, Bailey attended Trumpapalooza, the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention. He has promised to roll out the red carpet for Trump and his agenda, and he would bring Trump’s chaos and destruction to Illinois.
Bailey Would Bring Trump’s Agenda to Illinois
Trump’s agenda has driven up the cost of everyday essentials for Illinois families and farmers. Bailey has cheered on the tariffs that have cost Illinois families an average of $3,325, and Trump’s war in Iran has raised costs for farmers. He even has promised to bring Trump’s DOGE to Illinois, despite the chaos and damage DOGE inflicted on the federal government.
Bailey’s Family School Teaches Extreme, Outdated Ideas about Science, Slavery, and Women
The school Bailey’s family founded teaches outdated ideas, including that dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time. When asked about it, he doubled down on that belief. The school also used a curriculum that teaches that slaveholders treated enslaved people well and that women are bad for the workforce. Darren Bailey cannot be trusted with our state’s schools or our children’s education.
Bailey Opposes Abortion Even in Cases of Rape and Incest
Bailey has said abortion is worse than the Holocaust. He has said he opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and he has consistently earned top marks from Illinois Right to Life Action. He would be a disaster for Illinois women.
Bailey is a Pro-Gun Extremist
Bailey voted against the assault weapons ban, said he would not comply with it, and says he believes in zero regulation on guns. And just 90 minutes after the deadly shooting in Highland Park, he told people to “move on.” Illinois families need a leader who will keep them safe, and that’s not Darren Bailey.
Bailey is Bad for Illinois Workers
Bailey has fought policies that have put more money in people’s pockets and protected workers. He voted against raising the minimum wage, which gave 1.4 million Illinoisans a raise. He also opposed the Workers’ Rights Amendment and paid leave for all. Bailey has shown time and time again that he doesn’t have Illinois workers’ backs.
Bailey Voted to Raise Property Taxes 13 Times
Bailey doesn’t want voters to know that when he had the power to raise their property taxes, he did it every time. While serving on the North Clay school board, Bailey voted to raise property taxes by 81 percent.
Bailey Delivered Nothing for Illinois When in Office
After years in the legislature, Bailey sponsored only two bills that became law. Meanwhile, he opposed legislation to make life better for Illinoisans, including bipartisan bills that his Republican colleagues supported. Bailey won’t get things done for Illinois.
Bailey Called Chicago a “Hellhole” and Co-Sponsored a Bill to Kick it Out of Illinois
Bailey now claims Chicago as his home, but Illinoisans remember that he repeatedly disparaged the city, calling it a “hellhole.” In 2019, he co-sponsored legislation to separate Chicago from the rest of Illinois and make it its own state.
Bailey Treats the Law as Optional
Just as Donald Trump has made corruption and disregard for the law a central feature of his presidency, Darren Bailey has been racking up campaign violations. It was recently uncovered that Bailey has been living and campaigning out of a luxury Chicago apartment rent-free, following months of claiming Chicago as his home. When asked, he admitted the apartment is an in-kind donation, while still refusing to provide answers on who is funding it.
He also had to delay and postpone fundraisers he scheduled on legislative session days, in violation of a law he himself voted for. Illinois voters are left to wonder what other laws Bailey considers optional.
