Illinois Democrats Criticize Darren Bailey Over Refusal to Acknowledge 2020 Election Results (Springfield, IL) – The Democratic Party of Illinois is criticizing Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey after he declined to say who won the 2020 presidential election, linking his comments to former President Donald Trump’s continued claims that the election was stolen.
According to the Democratic Party of Illinois, Bailey refused to directly answer who won the 2020 election on the same evening Trump delivered a primetime speech that repeated false claims about widespread election fraud and questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential contest.
The party argued that Bailey’s refusal to acknowledge President Joe Biden’s victory reflects continued alignment with Trump’s claims about the election.
Democratic Party of Illinois spokesperson Gwen Pepin said Bailey’s position raises concerns about his fitness for public office.
“Anyone who can’t admit Donald Trump lost the 2020 election lacks the integrity to serve as governor. Darren Bailey has refused to do so, again and again. Trump took the national stage to spread lies about our democracy, and Bailey’s silence was compliance. When Bailey declines to say Trump lost, he’s protecting his own standing with the MAGA movement,” Pepin said in a statement.
Bailey has previously faced questions regarding the 2020 election and has drawn criticism from Democrats for declining to give a direct answer about its outcome.
The latest exchange comes as Illinois’ 2026 gubernatorial campaign continues to intensify, with Democrats highlighting Bailey’s ties to Trump and Republicans focusing their campaigns on issues such as taxes, public safety, and the state’s economy.
Illinois Democrats Criticize Darren Bailey Over Refusal to Acknowledge 2020 Election Results
