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2h ago

Darren Bailey Launches 2026 Illinois Governor Bid, Picks Aaron Del Mar as Running Mate

Democratic groups swiftly portray him as a Trump-aligned hardliner as the Republican primary field takes shape.

Former state Sen. Darren Bailey greets people after announcing his Republican primary bid for governor, Sept. 25, 2025, at Turner’s Table in Carterville. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
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Overview

  • The former state senator kicked off his second gubernatorial run Thursday with stops that included a 4 p.m. announcement at the Drake Hotel in Oak Brook and an event in Bloomington.
  • Bailey named Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar as his lieutenant governor choice for the 2026 ticket.
  • In a Facebook message, Bailey said he is "leaving the farm to fight" for families and freedom and urged supporters to help restore "common sense" to Springfield.
  • The Democratic Party of Illinois and the Democratic Governors Association condemned his record and branded him an extreme MAGA candidate tied to President Donald Trump.
  • Bailey previously lost the 2022 governor’s race to JB Pritzker by 13 points, narrowly lost a 2024 GOP congressional primary to Rep. Mike Bost, and lost a lawsuit challenging Pritzker’s COVID-19 executive orders.