Prairie State Wire

Illinois GOP chairman Don Tracy recognizes Darren Bailey’s victory in the primary for governor. 

He has congratulated Bailey and many Republicans who won the primary.

“Darren Bailey - a third-generation farmer - from Louisville, IL is our official Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois," Tracy said. "In a race with a crowded 6-person field, State Senator Darren Bailey came away with a dominating 58% of the vote! It’s clear that Sen. Bailey has built something special and has developed a great grassroots network of support. The following is the statement I released to the media on election night: ‘Congratulations to Senator Darren Bailey on a well-earned victory tonight! Governor JB Pritzker is a failed governor whose disastrous leadership has meant higher taxes for Illinois families, pro-criminal policies in the face of a violent crime wave, silence as rampant Democratic corruption continues to define Illinois state government, and two years of repeated executive government overreach and tragic mistakes in response to COVID.’"

Tracy recognizes Bailey as "a man of deep integrity." He touted that Bailey has "spent his time in elected office taking on the Illinois status quo and championing the rights and interests of taxpayers, small businesses, and parents."

"Who better than a farmer and blue-collar businessman like Darren Bailey to take on a failed trust-fund billionaire in JB Pritzker," Tracy said. "There will be no question for working families who are fighting for them."

The Illinois GOP, Tracy said, is looking forward to defeating Pritzker and helping elect Bailey as the next governor. He also recognized Bailey's running mate and many other Republicans.   

"In addition to Bailey and his running mate, Stephanie Trussell, winning their race, we also have other phenomenal statewide nominees to highlight: - US Senate - Kathy Salvi - Secretary of State - Dan Brady - Treasurer - Tom Demmer - Comptroller - Shannon Teresi - Attorney General - Tom DeVore This diverse group of talented and qualified candidates will defeat their Democrat opponents in November and immediately begin to restore Illinois. One-party rule in Illinois has destroyed our finances, driven hundreds of thousands of taxpayers out of the state and led to rampant corruption from Chicago City Hall to the capitol. November 8th is when Illinois’ working families take back their state and begin a new era of building prosperity and freedom.” 

The establishment wing of the GOP took a beating in the June primary election while the more conservative Trump wing had several victories. Most notably, Bailey won the governor's race along with many candidates he supported. He supported five candidates for the State House, and four of them won. On the Senate side, Bailey went one for two. Win Stroller, backed by Bailey, beat Brett Nicklaus, backed by Jim Durbin. Overall, the election was a win for the Bailey faction of the party and a loss for the Durbin faction, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

In a speech commemorating his victory in the Illinois GOP primary for governor, Bailey criticized Pritzker’s poor leadership in all areas. Pritzker, he said, does not understand how the rampant inflation is affecting families nor the effects that his lockdowns had on everyday people. Bailey also noted that Pritzker has never had to balance a family budget, and it shows when it comes to the state budget. He was also critical of the governor's record in crime, particularly in Chicago. Bailey is assuring the people of Illinois that “help is on the way.”

After winning the Illinois GOP primary for governor, Bailey said that the real fight is for “our future and our families.” He was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and Bailey has promised that he will support Trump and rally Illinois behind him in 2024. At a victory party in Effingham, Bailey told supporters, “Our movement sent a clear message to the establishment and the political elites: We will not be ignored.”