Governor of Illinois

Statewide — all of Illinois

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

Incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker is seeking a third term.[1]
The Illinois State Board of Elections candidate list shows three active governor/lieutenant governor tickets for Nov. 3: Pritzker–Mitchell (Democratic), Bailey–Del Mar (Republican) and Corbett–Schofield (Independent). Green, Independence Party and New Party filings were removed.[15]
Pritzker was unopposed in the Democratic primary after challenger Patricia Tillman was disqualified.[1]
Darren Bailey, the 2022 Republican nominee, won the Republican primary with 53.3%, ahead of Ted Dabrowski (28.9%), James Mendrick (9.6%) and Rick Heidner (8.1%).[1][13]
Independent Collin Corbett is also running; a Public Policy Polling survey conducted Sept. 30–Oct. 1 showed him at 6%.[13][1]

On the ballot · 3 candidates

JB PritzkerDINCUMBENTGovernor of Illinois (since January 2019)Full profile →Darren BaileyRFarmer; former state senator (55th District, 2021–2023)Full profile →Collin CorbettIndependentPolitical strategist and small-business ownerFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

JB Pritzker
Supports[4]
Signed HB 370 in 2021 repealing the Parental Notification Act for abortion.
Darren Bailey
Mixed[13][12]
Says he holds anti-abortion personal views but would not push legislation to advance them if elected.
Collin Corbett
—

Stricter gun laws

JB Pritzker
Supports[6]
Signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act in January 2023, banning the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
Darren Bailey
Opposes[17][12]
As a state senator filed legislation in April 2021 to eliminate the state's FOID card program; also reported as signing onto a bill letting active-military applicants under 18 buy firearms without parental consent.
Collin Corbett
—

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

JB Pritzker
Opposes[5]
Signed laws in 2021 strengthening the TRUST Act and requiring local officials to end partnerships with ICE.
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
—

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

JB Pritzker
—
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
Mixed[14]
Proposes reducing mandates and permitting delays, impact-fee transparency, matching grants for local zoning and planning updates, and an opt-in permitting program for local governments that includes one for 'missing middle' housing, while preserving local control.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

JB Pritzker
Supports[9][16]
Championed a 2020 constitutional amendment to allow a graduated income tax (which he called a 'fair tax') with higher rates on higher incomes; voters rejected it in November 2020.
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
Opposes[14]
His platform says the state's flat income tax is 'necessary in Illinois under the current leadership' and opposes giving politicians power to raise income taxes on targeted groups, while proposing larger earned-income and child tax credits.

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

JB Pritzker
—
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
In their own words[14]
“We will bring down energy costs and restore reliability while moving into our clean energy future.”
On his campaign platform page, Energy section

Raise the minimum wage

JB Pritzker
Supports[3]
Signed SB 1 in 2019 phasing in a $15 minimum wage over six years.
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
—

Universal, publicly funded child care

JB Pritzker
—
Darren Bailey
—
Collin Corbett
In their own words[14]
“We will increase access to childcare, lower costs, and raise wages for families.”
On his campaign platform page, Affordability section

ISSUE	JB Pritzker D	Darren Bailey R	Collin Corbett Independent
Protect legal access to abortion	Supports[4] Signed HB 370 in 2021 repealing the Parental Notification Act for abortion.	Mixed[13][12] Says he holds anti-abortion personal views but would not push legislation to advance them if elected.	—
Stricter gun laws	Supports[6] Signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act in January 2023, banning the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.	Opposes[17][12] As a state senator filed legislation in April 2021 to eliminate the state's FOID card program; also reported as signing onto a bill letting active-military applicants under 18 buy firearms without parental consent.	—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	Opposes[5] Signed laws in 2021 strengthening the TRUST Act and requiring local officials to end partnerships with ICE.	—	—
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	—	—	Mixed[14] Proposes reducing mandates and permitting delays, impact-fee transparency, matching grants for local zoning and planning updates, and an opt-in permitting program for local governments that includes one for 'missing middle' housing, while preserving local control.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	Supports[9][16] Championed a 2020 constitutional amendment to allow a graduated income tax (which he called a 'fair tax') with higher rates on higher incomes; voters rejected it in November 2020.	—	Opposes[14] His platform says the state's flat income tax is 'necessary in Illinois under the current leadership' and opposes giving politicians power to raise income taxes on targeted groups, while proposing larger earned-income and child tax credits.
Faster transition away from fossil fuels	—	—	In their own words[14] “We will bring down energy costs and restore reliability while moving into our clean energy future.” On his campaign platform page, Energy section
Raise the minimum wage	Supports[3] Signed SB 1 in 2019 phasing in a $15 minimum wage over six years.	—	—
Universal, publicly funded child care	—	—	In their own words[14] “We will increase access to childcare, lower costs, and raise wages for families.” On his campaign platform page, Affordability section

Research notes & limits

Slate confirmed 2026-10-19 against the Illinois State Board of Elections candidate search (Governor and Lieutenant Governor, general election): three active tickets, with Green, Independence and New Party filings removed; no write-in filing for governor is listed, so Michael Vick (reported as a write-in on Wikipedia) was removed. Ballotpedia blocked automated access, so Wikipedia is used only for party/basic bio and primary results. Running mates are in each ballotNote. Votes cited for Bailey come from a WBEZ/IPM news report because ilga.gov was not reachable.

Sources · 30

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

1.2026 Illinois gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
2.JB for Governor · JB Pritzker campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
3.Gov. Pritzker Signs Historic Minimum Wage Legislation Giving 1.4 Million Illinoisans a Raise · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2019-02-19 Official record
4.Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation to Further Protect Reproductive Rights · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2021-12-17 Official record
5.Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Further Establishing Illinois as the Most Welcoming State in the Nation · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2021-08-02 Official record
6.Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Banning Assault Weapons and Sale of High-Capacity Magazines · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2023-01-10 Official record
7.Gov. Pritzker Signs SB1, Creating the Department of Early Childhood · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2024-06-25 Official record
8.Gov. Pritzker Signs Medicaid Omnibus Bill into Law · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2026-06-16 Official record
9.Democrats Put Graduated Income Tax Question to Voters · WTTW News · 2019-05-27 News report
10.Darren Bailey · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
11.Issues · Bailey for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
12.Examining The Record: Darren Bailey pushed to fix the state's ills, but critics call him ineffective · WBEZ / IPM Newsroom · 2022-10-01 News report
13.Bailey trying to stay on message as attacks from Pritzker mount · Capitol News Illinois · 2026-10-07 News report
14.Platform for Illinois · Collin for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
15.Candidate List, General Election 11/3/2026: Governor and Lieutenant Governor · Illinois State Board of Elections · 2026-10-19 Official record
16.Illinois Voters Reject 'Fair Tax' Amendment · WTTW News · 2020-11-04 News report
17.Sen. Bailey Files Legislation to Eliminate FOID Cards · Radio Link (Bailey press release, 2021-04-07) · 2021-04-07 News report
18.JB Pritzker · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
19.JB for Governor · JB Pritzker campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
20.Gov. Pritzker Signs Historic Minimum Wage Legislation Giving 1.4 Million Illinoisans a Raise · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2019-02-19 Official record
21.Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Banning Assault Weapons and Sale of High-Capacity Magazines · Office of Governor JB Pritzker · 2023-01-10 Official record
22.The Governor · Office of the Governor of Illinois · 2026-10-19 Official record
23.Darren Bailey · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
24.Meet Darren · Bailey for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
25.Issues · Bailey for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
26.Bailey trying to stay on message as attacks from Pritzker mount · Capitol News Illinois · 2026-10-07 News report
27.Bailey Declared Winner of Republican Primary in Illinois Governor's Race · WTTW News · 2026-03-17 News report
28.About Collin · Collin for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
29.Former Republican strategist Collin Corbett files to run for governor as independent · Capitol News Illinois · 2026-05-26 News report
30.Platform for Illinois · Collin for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words