Biography
Darren Bailey is a southern Illinois farmer and former Republican state representative (2019–2021) and state senator (2021–2023). He is the Republican nominee for governor for the second time, after losing to JB Pritzker in 2022, and his campaign focuses on property taxes, utility costs, public safety and education.[1][2][3][4]
Bailey was born in Louisville, Illinois, in 1966, and is a third-generation farmer; he earned an associate degree in agricultural production from Lake Land College.[1][2] He and his sons operate Bailey Family Farm, and he and his wife, Cindy, who have been married 39 years, live on the family farm near Louisville.[2] The couple founded a private Christian school, and he served 17 years on the North Clay Board of Education, 12 of them as president.[2] They have four children, according to Wikipedia, and his campaign says they have thirteen grandchildren.[1][2]
Bailey was elected to the Illinois House from the 109th District in 2018 and took office in January 2019.[1][2] He won the 55th District seat in the Illinois Senate in 2020 and served there from January 2021, as the Republican spokesperson on the Agriculture Committee.[1] His campaign says he refused a taxpayer-funded pension as a legislator.[2]
Bailey was the Republican nominee for governor in 2022 and lost to Pritzker.[1] He won the Republican primary again on March 17, 2026, with Aaron Del Mar of Cook County as his running mate.[1][5]
- 1.Darren Bailey · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 2.Meet Darren · Bailey for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 3.Issues · Bailey for Illinois campaign · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 4.Bailey trying to stay on message as attacks from Pritzker mount · Capitol News Illinois · 2026-10-07 News report
- 5.Bailey Declared Winner of Republican Primary in Illinois Governor's Race · WTTW News · 2026-03-17 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.