By Illinois Review
As Darren and Cindy Bailey mourn the heartbreaking loss of their son, daughter-in-law, and two young grandchildren, most Illinoisans have responded with compassion. But even in this moment of profound grief, political operatives appear to be exploiting tragedy for gain — and possibly violating federal law in the process.
On Sunday morning, Illinois Review reported that local political figure and candidate Julie Cho posted that she had received a postcard supposedly from the Darren Bailey for Governor campaign.
The problem? The postcard used an outdated 2022 Bailey campaign logo, not the current version featuring the Chicago skyline. The postage date — November 6, 2025 — only deepened the suspicion, suggesting someone pulled an old postcard and attempted to pass it off as an active campaign mailing.
Observers also noticed that the handwriting on the address label bore a striking resemblance to handwriting on Cho’s own petition sheets. While no one can definitively state who created or mailed the postcard, the inconsistencies strongly suggest a deliberate attempt to mislead voters at a moment when the Bailey family is experiencing unimaginable loss.
And this isn’t an isolated incident — it comes on the heels of a broader pattern of questionable mail practices inside Illinois politics. Illinois Review has extensively reported on how the Illinois Republican Party is already under investigation for allegedly misusing its nonprofit postage discount, raising serious concerns about systemic abuse of the postal system for political purposes.
But this case may go even further.
Under 18 U.S.C. § 1341, using the U.S. Postal Service to execute a fraudulent scheme can constitute federal mail fraud, punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, massive fines, restitution, and a permanent felony record.
You cannot use the U.S. Postal Service to deceive voters with a fake political postcard. That is not a “trick.” It is potentially a federal crime.
Given the seriousness of this incident — and the broader context of mail-related abuses already under scrutiny — an immediate investigation should be launched to determine who created, mailed, or coordinated this deceptive piece.
Illinois voters deserve transparency and accountability from anyone attempting to weaponize the U.S. mail to manipulate an election.
