DeKalb Times

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) is on a bus tour of the state’s 102 counties. The tour is set to end on June 25, just three days before the June 28 primary. 

Bailey’s bus tour recently made stops in DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson counties.

“I am the only candidate in this race who is not afraid to make the bold choices we need to get Illinois back on track,” Bailey said in a statement. “I’m in this fight because I love our state and want to make it better. I love the people and the midwestern values that have made Illinois a great place to live and work and raise a family. It breaks my heart to see our state being trampled by failed leaders with failed policies. If you love the status quo – then I am not the candidate for you.”

Bailey has emphasized hard work, individual liberty, and social responsibility in his campaign. He emphasized that currently, "there is a political class that is ignoring our values and harming American families." The State of Illinois, Bailey said, needs a leader "that is one of us.”

“If you are ready for real change. If you want a governor who will oppose extreme policies like critical race theory in the classroom, advocate for real spending and tax reform, defend the police, stand up for our 2nd amendment rights and put parents, taxpayers, and working families first – then I am your candidate," he said. "We need you to get involved in our movement. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your fellow church members – tell them to go vote and to vote for me. The journey to restore Illinois begins on June 28th but it can only happen if you get out and vote. Let’s fire JB Pritzker and turn Illinois around!”

Legislation passed by Pritzker is harming Illinoisans, Bailey said.

“Pritzker signed legislation into law taking away the right of conscience for workers in Illinois to be able to make their own healthcare decisions," he said. "JB also signed legislation allowing minors to get abortions without parental notification. Your 12-year-old daughter can’t go on a school field trip without your permission, but she can get an abortion without you knowing about it? Governor Pritzker is an extreme leftist who hates parents, and his policies are a complete joke.”

The Democratic Governors Association is running ads claiming Republican gubernatorial candidates are “running on radical anti-choice stances that are completely out of touch with Illinois values. This primary is only going to get nastier as the crowded field tries to out-Trump each other with anti-science, anti-safety, anti-choice policies. Meanwhile, Gov. JB Pritzker has signed sweeping legislation protecting abortion as a fundamental right.” 

The Chicago Tribune reported on a DGA ad that said, “One hundred percent pro-life, Bailey wants to ban abortions and make it illegal here in Illinois. An NRA member, Bailey opposes sensible gun control and says he’ll protect the Second Amendment at all cost.”

The third-generation farmer, who grew up on the Bailey Family Farm has grabbed a large lead in a poll commissioned by the Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ. In that poll, 32% of likely Republican primary voters said they would vote for Bailey, compared to 17% for Richard Irvin. Jesse Sullivan, who garnered 11% of the vote, was the only other candidate to receive support in the double digits. Former state senator Paul Schimpf scored 6%, followed by businessman Gary Rabine with 7%, and Max Solomon with 2%, according to WGLT.