The 2026 Illinois primary results for governor have set up a rematch between Gov. JB Pritzker and his 2022 Republican challenger Darren Bailey, after CBS News projects Bailey has won the GOP primary.
Pritzker, now running with Christian Mitchell after Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton launched her campaign for Dick Durbin’s U.S. Senate seat, was unopposed in the Democratic primary and is now seeking his third term as the governor of Illinois.
Pritzker’s national profile has grown as he has been one of President Trump’s most vocal critics. He used a campaign ad in March to highlight efforts to oppose the Trump Administration’s aggressive federal immigration crackdown in Chicago, known as Operation Midway Blitz, last fall.
He spent some of his victory speech Tuesday night focused on the president.
“Right now, grifters of corruption and selfishness, purveyors of bigotry and hatred, have taken control of the White House and Congress,” Pritzker said. “The Carnival Barker in Chief – sorry, the Commander in Thief – says there’s no federal money for health care and food assistance for families in need. But they had no trouble finding tens of millions of dollars to send masked troops with assault weapons onto the streets of Illinois to terrorize Americans. They’re shooting moms in the face. They shot a nurse in the back who was peacefully protesting. A teacher’s assistant was shot five times for honking her horn and yelling. These were all American citizens. And then something remarkable happened – even as other states capitulated to Donald Trump – the seemingly unstoppable force of Trump’s unrestrained power met the immovable object of Illinoisans’ courage.”
Bailey, a former Illinois state representative and state senator, joined with Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar as his running mate this year. A farmer in southern Illinois, Bailey made a name for himself during the COVID-19 pandemic when he unsuccessfully fought state executive orders requiring masks in most public settings.
Bailey easily won the 2022 Republican primary, but went on to lose to Pritzker in the general election by 13 points. In 2024, he challenged U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Illinois) in the Republican primary for his seat and lost.
Bailey has criticized Pritzker’s leadership, including blaming him for rising costs, and saying he’s “just another billionaire who has never once felt the pain he’s inflicted.”