Key takeaways:
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey will face off again in the 2026 gubernatorial election after winning their respective primaries, mirroring their 2022 contest where Pritzker won by 13 points.
- Pritzker, seeking a third term, has raised his national profile through opposition to federal immigration enforcement actions and significant legislative initiatives like raising the minimum wage and eliminating cash bail.
- Darren Bailey, a farmer and former state legislator, criticizes Pritzker’s leadership on economic issues and public health mandates, aiming to improve his previous electoral performance in a predominantly Democratic state.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey are set to face off again in the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election after both secured their party nominations in the recent primaries. Pritzker, the incumbent governor seeking a third term, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Bailey won the Republican primary, according to projections by CBS News and NBC News. This rematch echoes the 2022 election, where Pritzker defeated Bailey by a 13-point margin.
Governor Pritzker, who has served as Illinois’ top executive since 2018, has increased his national profile in recent years, particularly as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. During the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz, Pritzker publicly opposed the federal actions and encouraged residents to document any abuses. He also established the Illinois Accountability Commission, led by a federal judge, to investigate potential constitutional violations by federal officers during the operation. Pritzker has emphasized accountability for officials involved in such actions, including former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Pritzker’s tenure has been marked by significant legislative initiatives, including raising the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per hour and signing the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail statewide. The latter has been a point of contention, with Republicans arguing that the elimination of cash bail poses risks to public safety. Pritzker, a billionaire and heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune, has also invested heavily in political campaigns, including supporting his lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton’s bid for the U.S. Senate through a super PAC that has spent nearly $15 million on advertising.
Darren Bailey, a farmer from southern Illinois and former state legislator, has positioned himself as a critic of Pritzker’s leadership, blaming the governor for rising costs and portraying him as disconnected from the struggles of average residents. Bailey gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for opposing state mask mandates. In 2024, he unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Representative Mike Bost in the Republican primary. This upcoming gubernatorial race will test whether Bailey can improve on his previous performance against Pritzker in a state that has favored Democrats in recent statewide and legislative elections.
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