Politics & Government

State Sen. Darren Bailey Launches Campaign For Illinois Governor

"For too long, people in Illinois have been left without a voice," said the prominent critic of Gov. Pritzker's pandemic-related powers.

Then-state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield during the May 2020 special legislative session. Bailey was elected to the state senate in November and declared his candidacy for governor Monday.
Then-state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield during the May 2020 special legislative session. Bailey was elected to the state senate in November and declared his candidacy for governor Monday. (Ted Schurter/The State Journal-Register via AP, Pool)

EFFINGHAM, IL — Republican State Sen. Darren Bailey declared his candidacy for governor of Illinois at a campaign event Monday evening.

"Illinois is in trouble, and it started a long time before the current COVID crisis," Bailey said, after taking the stage to the sounds of "Get Ready for This" by 2 Unlimited before a mostly maskless crowd at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham.

"Government here in Illinois, for a long time, has always spent more than it took in. What'd they do? They raised your taxes. And government continued to spend more than it needed. Up went your taxes. The cycle never ends," Bailey said. "Friends, we've been saying this in Springfield for a long time: Illinois does not have a revenue problem, Illinois has a spending problem, and it's time we address it."

Find out what's happening in Across Illinoiswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bailey, 54, of Xenia, has been among the most prominent voices in Springfield arguing against Gov. J.B. Pritzker's restrictions on businesses and activities imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last April, Bailey filed a lawsuit challenging the governor's authority to enforce public health emergency orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. In response, a Clay County judge initially ruled against Pritzker's stay-at-home order, but a Sangamon County judge later dismissed Bailey's case after it was consolidated with other challenges to Pritzker's emergency powers. During the May special legislative session at the Bank of Springfield Center, Bailey was escorted out of the building after refusing to wear a face mask.

Find out what's happening in Across Illinoiswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I am a person of faith with strong convictions," Bailey said. "I will be a governor for the people of Illinois guided by the lessons that I've learned from faith, family and community. It's time to lift ourselves out of the mire and partisan anger and cynicism. It's time to restore confidence in government. It's time to revitalize our state. It's time that we live up to our name: 'The Heartland of America.'"

Bailey and his family own and operate a farm in his Eastern Illinois hometown. In 2016, he and his wife founded a religious school, and before he was elected General Assembly in 2018, Bailey spent 17 years on the board of his local public school district, according to his campaign website. Last year, he was elected to the 55th District state senate seat formerly held by Dale Righter.

"For too long, people in Illinois have been left without a voice. People in Illinois have been divided. We've been used, we've been mocked, we've been marginalized," he said. "People in Illinois have been ignored based on their race. They've been ignored based on their class, their ZIP code or by special interests, all while a political class has done absolutely nothing but enrich themselves while destroying our state and robbing our children and our grandchildren of our future."

Bailey promised, if elected, to cut taxes on everyone in Illinois by the end of his second term as governor.

A member of an informal caucus of Republican lawmakers from southeastern Illinois known as the "Eastern Bloc," Bailey celebrated the news of the resignation of longtime Democratic Party boss and Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, who stepped down as party chairman Monday.

"For decades, this man and his party drove the bad decisions that decimated our state. But listen, don't think that just because he's gone that his policies are going to disappear anytime soon," he said. "Because of the bad decisions that he has made, businesses are fleeing Illinois, and our friends and family are fleeing with them. Illinois lost 850,000 people in the last decade to other states. People have left looking for work. Our family and friends have left looking for affordable housing. Our family and friends are leaving because of high taxes. Gov. Pritzker and Illinois Democrats, they failed us and it's time to stop it."

Bailey joins former State Sen. Paul Schimpf and McHenry County businessman Gary Rabin in the race to unseat Pritzker next year. His campaign committee had about $180,000 on hand as of the start of the year.

"I'm here to tell you that better days are ahead. Don't give up. Now is the time for change. I believe the people of Illinois are ready for it. It's time for us to boldly and courageously fight for the restoration of Illinois," Bailey said, announcing his campaign. "My grandchildren and your grandchildren, friends, they're counting on us. So my plea to you right now is to join me as I stand for you in 2022. God bless you, patriots. God bless Illinois."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here