Overview
- The lone debate, held Tuesday night, featured tense exchanges over property taxes, public safety and criminal justice reform as both candidates sharpened messages with three weeks to go before Election Day.
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker has poured personal funds into his campaign, including a $65 million summer infusion that pushes his total spending across three campaigns past $400 million.
- Darren Bailey has repositioned with a softer tone, moved into a South Loop apartment to court city and suburban voters, and is running on affordability, education and safety while retaining an endorsement from President Trump.
- Independent Collin Corbett, who collected roughly 37,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot and has put about $500,000 into his campaign, was excluded from the WTTW forum and held a virtual event to present his moderate alternative.
- Pritzker's record on marijuana legalization, a $15 minimum wage, a $45 billion capital plan and credit-rating gains forms the backdrop of the race and makes suburban voters the decisive group that could determine whether the rematch narrows or widens in November.