Compare: Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Darren Bailey · Republican

• Farmer and former state senator from Xenia in southern Illinois Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Lost to Pritzker by nearly 13 points in 2022 Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Endorsed by President Trump Capitol News Illinois ↗

JB Pritzker · Democratic · Incumbent

• Governor of Illinois since 2019, after unseating Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Billionaire former entrepreneur and philanthropist from the Hyatt hotel family Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Won reelection in 2022 by nearly 13 points over Darren Bailey Chicago Sun-Times ↗

Collin Corbett · Independent

• Palatine political consultant, 40, and former Republican strategist Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Collected 37,000 signatures to get on the ballot as an independent Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Running mate Carolyn Schofield is a former Republican McHenry County Board member Capitol News Illinois ↗

Darren Bailey · Republican

• Says: Calls for capping property taxes at 1% Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Calls for abolishing the Illinois Tollway Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Calls for a DOGE-style review of state spending Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Opposed Pritzker's COVID-19 mitigations and mask mandates Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: Says Chicago-area voters are now feeling the "failures of the SAFE-T Act" Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: Opposes data centers, breaking with Trump Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: His campaign says it is not seeking to restrict abortion access in Illinois WBEZ ↗
• Says: Says the state should cooperate with ICE to de-escalate enforcement WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Would reassess insurance coverage mandates so people can buy basic plans WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Would roll back the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to lower utility bills WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Prefers lowering taxes across the board over tax breaks for particular businesses WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Says he is "glad to have" Trump's support but wants to focus on Pritzker Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Asked whether tariffs and the Iran war are raising prices, called it "a short-term pain for a long-term gain" Capitol News Illinois ↗

JB Pritzker · Democratic · Incumbent

• Signed laws legalizing recreational marijuana and raising the minimum wage to $15 Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Championed a $45 billion capital plan funded largely by sports betting and expanded gambling Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Signed the state assault weapons ban and laws supporting abortion care Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• The state received 12 credit rating upgrades during his tenure Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Business owners complained his COVID-19 closures lasted too long Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Spent $58 million on the failed 2020 graduated income tax amendment Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: Says immigration is the federal government's job and local police should focus on public safety WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Created the Illinois Accountability Commission to document federal agents' actions during Operation Midway Blitz WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Says he fought to keep the National Guard off Illinois streets WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Says he capped insulin at $35 a month and erased more than $1.1 billion in medical debt WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Says he created and doubled the child tax credit and eliminated the state grocery tax WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗

Collin Corbett · Independent

• Says: Describes himself as a fiscal conservative Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: Supports abortion rights, marriage equality and more gun control Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Wants a tax on services, calling reliance on sales taxes regressive Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Would replace the motor fuel tax with a mileage-based tax Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Proposes an independent ethics commission covering all of state government Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Says: Opposes much of Trump's agenda, including Operation Midway Blitz tactics Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Says: Says local police should focus on local policing but be allowed to work with federal agents on violent criminals, and would amend the TRUST Act WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Would increase price transparency in health care WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Plans to lower property taxes, hold state spending in check and bring down energy costs WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗
• Says: Would scale back tax breaks for big out-of-state corporations and expand help for small businesses WTTW voter guide (candidate's answers) ↗

Darren Bailey · Republican

• A Democratic Party of Illinois complaint says he failed to report donor-paid Chicago rent as an in-kind contribution; it is pending Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• A 2022 complaint alleging his campaign coordinated with a PAC was dismissed after a 2024 hearing found no coordination Illinois State Board of Elections ↗

JB Pritzker · Democratic · Incumbent

• No election complaints, federal cases or lawyer discipline found in the sources checked, Oct. 2021 to Oct. 2026 Illinois State Board of Elections ↗

Collin Corbett · Independent

• No election complaints, federal cases or lawyer discipline found in the sources checked, Oct. 2021 to Oct. 2026 Illinois State Board of Elections ↗

Darren Bailey · Republican

• Entered July with about $128,000 and has raised almost $300,000 since Chicago Sun-Times ↗

JB Pritzker · Democratic · Incumbent

• Has spent more than $400 million of his own money across three campaigns Chicago Sun-Times ↗
• Put $65 million into his campaign in summer 2026 Chicago Sun-Times ↗

Collin Corbett · Independent

• Loaned his campaign $500,000 Capitol News Illinois ↗
• Has reported four contributions over $1,000 since July Capitol News Illinois ↗