Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, said that families in the state are being burdened by high living costs and taxes while businesses relocate to more favorable states. He criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker’s national ambitions amid these pressures.
“JB is busy carrying water for a communist dictator abroad while Illinois families get crushed by groceries, rent, taxes and businesses flee,” said Bailey, Gubernatorial Candidate. “Now he wants to be president.”
According to the Tax Foundation’s latest comparative data, property taxes significantly contribute to Illinois’ cost of living. The state has the highest effective property tax rate on owner-occupied housing in the nation at 1.83%, ranking first among states. These high property taxes increase mortgage and rent costs, straining household budgets and discouraging long-term investment compared to lower-tax competitors.
Despite Illinois officially repealing its 1% state grocery tax, over half of residents will still pay a local grocery tax because 656 municipalities chose to maintain or enact their own ordinances. This means many families continue to face inflated grocery bills due to local policy even after the state-level repeal, undermining relief amid ongoing food and rent pressures.
Business climate pressures are evident in firm migration trends: Illinois has lost 2,616 businesses to other states since 1994, with the rate of exits tripling since the pandemic, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics establishment data. The acceleration began around 2017 and suggests employers increasingly opt for states with lower costs and simpler tax structures.
Bailey is a former Illinois state senator (55th District) and state representative (109th District). He was the Republican nominee for governor in 2022 and is running again in the 2026 gubernatorial election. Ballotpedia provides nonpartisan background on his public record and campaign status.
