By Illinois Review
Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey and his running mate, Aaron Del Mar, are hitting the road for one final statewide campaign blitz, launching a five-day, 17-stop “Get Out the Vote” bus tour on Monday, October 26, ahead of the November 3 general election.
The tour comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s renewed endorsement of Bailey and his October 22 social media message urging Illinois Republicans to head to the polls and support GOP candidates.
The first leg of Bailey’s tour takes him directly into the heart of deep-red Republican country in southern Illinois – home to some of the state’s most loyal conservative grassroots activists and a critical base of support for the Republican ticket.
The strategy is clear: rally the troops, energize the conservative base and maximize Republican turnout in the final days before Election Day.
A strong downstate showing would be important to Bailey’s effort to close the statewide vote gap against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, particularly as the campaign also seeks support in Chicago’s suburbs.
The tour begins Monday morning in Effingham, followed by stops in Salem, Marion and Collinsville – communities situated in some of Illinois’ strongest Republican regions.
On Tuesday, Bailey travels through Decatur, Springfield, Jacksonville and Quincy before shifting northward for Wednesday appearances in Peoria, Moline and Palatine.
Thursday’s stops include Burr Ridge, Bolingbrook and Naperville, while Friday’s final swing takes Bailey through Aurora and Sycamore before concluding in Loves Park.
Bailey, a former state senator and southern Illinois farmer, is seeking to defeat Pritzker in a rematch of their 2022 gubernatorial contest.
Throughout the campaign, Bailey has focused on Illinois’ high taxes, government spending, public safety and the rising cost of living, arguing that eight years of Pritzker’s leadership have left families and businesses struggling.
Independent candidate Collin Corbett is also competing in the November 3 election.
For Bailey, the final statewide tour represents an opportunity to reconnect with the conservative grassroots that propelled his political rise while reaching voters in suburban communities.
With Election Day approaching, the campaign’s focus is now squarely on turnout – from Republican strongholds downstate to the suburbs surrounding Chicago.
The election is November 3.
