Multiple sources confirm former state senator and 2022 GOP nominee for Governor, Darren Bailey, will officially enter the 2026 race for Governor next week.

Governor JB Pritzker has added two members to the controversial Prisoner Review Board, including a former Mayor at the center of criticism surrounding a proposed Chinese battery manufacturing plant.

Here’s a rundown of recent candidate filings.

A top Republican critic of Governor JB Pritzker is accusing the Governor of “fearmongering” and promoting “conspiracy theories” following Pritzker’s assertion twice last week that President Donald Trump is planning to have troops in Illinois during the 2026 election.

Former Senator and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey and Cook County GOP Chairman Aaron Del Mar met for hours Friday to discuss forming a ticket, source say. But the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.

Governor JB Pritzker ramped up his rhetoric Thursday against President Donald Trump, suggesting Trump’s threats to send National Guard troops into Chicago is actually a way for Trump to cancel the 2026 election.