Bailey Enters Governor's Race This Week
Former Sen. Darren Bailey, the 2022 GOP nominee for Governor, will enter the 2026 race Thursday.
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Former State Senator and 2022 GOP gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey will officially enter the 2026 race Thursday, a campaign invitation obtained by The Illinoize confirms.
Bailey and his running mate, Cook County GOP Chairman and state central committeeman Aaron Del Mar, will announce their campaign Thursday evening in suburban Oak Brook.
“This is your chance to be part of a moment that’s growing stronger everyday,” the invitation says. “Join Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar as they share their bold vision to save Illinois.”
Bailey had been scheduled to announce his campaign last week, but the launch was delayed, we’re told.
Bailey lost the 2022 race for Governor to JB Pritzker by 13 points and some Republicans believe announcing in the suburbs instead of deep southern Illinois with Bailey’s base is a smart move.
“If Darren Bailey can stop scaring away moderate suburbanites, he may be able to turn around what happened in 2022,” a top GOP operative said. “But that’s easier said than done.”
Another GOP consultant said “he needs to expand and improve his skills up here.”
Conservative activist Ted Dabrowski and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick are already in the field for the GOP. Dabrowski’s campaign has already reported raising over $1 million this month.
Bailey’s three stop tour Thursday is scheduled for Carterville at 10:00 A.M., Bloomington at 1:00 P.M., and Oak Brook at 5:45 P.M.
