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Governor

Governor, Illinois

November 3, 2026 · 8 statements · 2026.09.23-812d26be

  • Not yet reviewed by a person.
  • The candidate list has not yet been checked against the certified state list.

Candidates

  • Darren Bailey

    Republican

    Sourced positions on 7 of 8

  • JB Pritzker

    Democratic Incumbent

    Sourced positions on 6 of 8

Also on the ballot

  • Collin Corbett Independent Not researched: below our published threshold

We research every Democratic or Republican nominee, every incumbent, and anyone who raised at least $50,000 (per the FEC) or reached 5 percent in a public poll. Methodology

Statements and positions

AgreeDisagreeNo clear position Select a position to see the evidence behind it.

State statements

EconomyNo. 1/8

Illinois should cut total state spending below this year's level.

Background

Illinois' general budget has grown to roughly $55 billion a year, up from about $34 billion in 2019. Cutting total spending would require reductions in areas such as schools, Medicaid, pensions or state operations.

Darren Bailey Agree

my view of government is usually it's too big and it needs to shrink.

Interview or debate · Aug 13, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

It needs to be broken down. It needs to be audited. It needs to be opened up so that people know where the money's coming from.

Press quote · Jan 8, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker Disagree

Prudence demanded that this year's budget proposal seeks a discretionary spending increase that is less than one half of one percent.

Campaign or official site · Feb 18, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

Public safetyNo. 2/8

Illinois should give judges more power to keep people charged with crimes in jail before trial.

Background

Since 2023, Illinois has ended cash bail, and judges can hold people before trial only for certain charges after a hearing. Expanding judges' power would let them detain more defendants while cases are pending.

Darren Bailey Agree

If a judge believes that someone is more likely than not to be a danger to the community, they stay in jail.

Press quote · Apr 30, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker Agree

I'm pleased that the General Assembly has passed clarifications that uphold the principle we fought to protect: to bring an end to a system where wealthy violent offenders can buy their way out of jail, while less fortunate nonviolent offenders wait in jail for trial.

Press quote · Dec 7, 2022 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.55)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

ImmigrationNo. 3/8

Illinois should repeal its law limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Background

The Illinois TRUST Act bars local police from holding people solely on federal immigration detainers or arresting people for immigration status alone. Repeal would allow local agencies to cooperate more with federal immigration enforcement.

Darren Bailey Agree

The TRUST Act has been an unmitigated disaster for our state.

Press quote · Sep 24, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

I'm calling for the repeal of the TRUST Act, the SAFE-T Act, and an end to sanctuary status.

Official post · Sep 1, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker Disagree

Illinois follows the law, but we expect the federal government to follow the law as well.

Interview or debate · Jun 12, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.65)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

GunsNo. 4/8

Illinois should keep its ban on selling many types of semiautomatic rifles.

Background

A 2023 Illinois law bans the sale of many semiautomatic rifles and magazines above set capacities, and requires owners of existing ones to register them. The law has been challenged in federal court.

Darren Bailey Disagree

I'll die on my front porch before anyone takes my guns away. My message to Springfield: If you want my guns, come get them.

Press quote · Jan 11, 2023 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Review
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

AbortionNo. 5/8

Illinois should keep its law making abortion a fundamental right under state law.

Background

The 2019 Reproductive Health Act declares abortion a fundamental right in Illinois and does not set a gestational limit in state law. Changing it would allow the state to add new limits.

Darren Bailey Disagree

Anyone who knows me knows there's no one here more pro-life or more pro Second Amendment than I.

Press quote · Aug 7, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Low (0.50)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker Agree

If you believe in standing up for women's fundamental rights, Illinois is a beacon of hope in the heart of this nation.

Campaign or official site · Jun 13, 2019 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

EducationNo. 6/8

Illinois should fund tax-credit scholarships that students can use for private school tuition.

Background

Illinois ended its Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program in 2023. Bringing a similar program back would give donors state tax credits for funding private school scholarships.

Darren Bailey Agree

I believe every family deserves the freedom to choose the school that's right for their child, and that competition makes every school better.

Press quote · May 20, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Review
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Energy and climateNo. 7/8

Illinois should keep its requirement to phase out coal and natural gas power plants by 2045.

Background

A 2021 Illinois law requires most fossil fuel power plants to close or reach zero emissions by 2045. Relaxing the deadline would let those plants run longer as electricity demand from data centers grows.

Darren Bailey Disagree

This irresponsible and activist-driven legislation allows for eminent domain and will have Illinois importing energy and exporting jobs while working families pay the price.

Official post · Sep 18, 2021 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

JB Pritzker Agree

We are building an environmentally and economically prosperous future—one where every Illinoisan has access to the good-paying jobs of tomorrow, while we create a cleaner and more sustainable world.

Campaign or official site · Sep 15, 2021 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.

HousingNo. 8/8

Illinois should override local zoning to allow small apartment buildings on most residential lots.

Background

Most Illinois cities and towns decide what kinds of homes can be built on residential land, and many allow only single-family houses. A state override would let owners build several units on most lots regardless of local rules.

Darren Bailey No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

JB Pritzker Agree

In many places, local regulations have made it too difficult and costly to build new housing...It all adds up to bureaucratic red tape that unnecessarily increases costs, delays construction, and frequently kills projects altogether.

Campaign or official site · Feb 18, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.70)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.