Darren Bailey to Launch 2026 Gubernatorial Campaign with Statewide Tour (Louisville, IL) – Darren Bailey, the conservative farmer, businessman, and former state senator who challenged Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022, will officially launch another campaign for governor this week with a series of events across Illinois.
Bailey and his running mate, former Cook County Republican chairman Aaron Del Mar, will kick off their campaign Thursday, Sept. 25, with stops in Carterville, Bloomington, and Oak Brook. The tour is designed to introduce the ticket to supporters across the state.
“Illinois cannot afford another four years under JB Pritzker’s failed leadership,” Bailey said in a statement ahead of the launch. “This campaign is about restoring hope, protecting families, and making Illinois a place where our kids and grandkids can thrive.”
Del Mar, who is joining Bailey on the ticket as lieutenant governor, emphasized a message of unity. “Our logo highlights the skyline of Chicago and the farmland of rural Illinois,” he said. “We understand north and south are separated geographically but we are still one state that must be unified. Together, we’re ready to lead a grassroots movement that will change the direction of the Land of Lincoln.”
The launch events are scheduled as follows:
Carterville: Turner’s Table, 1420 Main St., 10 a.m.
Bloomington: Barrel House, 9 Brickyard Dr., 1 p.m.
Oak Brook: The Drake Oak Brook, 2301 York Rd., doors open at 4:30 p.m., event begins at 5:45 p.m.
Bailey, a former state senator from Louisville, built his political profile as a vocal critic of Pritzker’s COVID-19 policies and government spending. He won the 2022 Republican primary for governor but lost the general election to Pritzker by more than 12 percentage points.
The 2026 campaign is expected to draw multiple GOP contenders as Republicans look to end Democrats’ two-decade hold on the governor’s office.
Darren Bailey to Launch 2026 Gubernatorial Campaign with Statewide Tour
