By Illinois Review
Former Illinois state senator and 2022 Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey is expected to launch a new bid, in a move that’s rattling the state GOP establishment.
Bailey has been actively working the phones, seeking advice and input as he considers a running mate.
The former GOP nominee for governor will enter the race with strong name recognition and a firm grasp of the issues, drawing on his experience as both a state representative and senator – and his history of clashes with party insiders.
Bailey is expected to draw considerable strength from the powerful grassroots base, which rallied behind him in 2022.
During his 2022 run for governor, Bailey won a high-profile endorsement from President Donald Trump.
“Darren is just the man to take on and defeat one of the worst governors in America,” Trump declared to a crowd of nearly 20,000 in Quincy.
While Bailey has not yet announced a running mate, he is expected to formally enter the race in the coming weeks. DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and Ted Dabrowski have already declared their candidacies.
The Republican primary is set for March 17, 2026.
