Illinois governor election 2026: JB Pritzker wins 3rd term, defeating Darren Bailey again
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been elected to a third term, defeating Republican Darren Bailey for a second time.
CBS News projected Pritzker had won his third term shortly after polls closed at 7 p.m.
Pritzker hit the stage about 30 minutes after polls closed. He had been heavily favored to win.
Pritzker thanked his family and talked about the accomplishments he's most proud of in his eight years in office, including delivering balanced budgets every year and helping Illinois get credit upgrades, as well as his work advancing equal pay, protecting reproductive health and abortion rights, and banning assault weapons and ghost guns.
"Remember that courage doesn't exist without fear. It exists to confront fear," he said. "[That's] what's given me the courage to stand up to this presidency. They asked me if I worry about insults flung by Oval Office I don't worry about it at all I'm happy to be something they jeer because I have seen what they choose to cheer!"
"What's next?" he continued. "I'm going to ask you to continue to hope to wrap yourself in hope in courage. We climbed one mountain tonight but we are sitting in the way of another. We need to break down the studs and rebuild."
Many people have been wondering if Gov. Pritzker is gearing up for a future presidential run and building a national profile. So far he hasn't ruled it out, but tonight his focus was squarely on Illinois.
Pritzker started his day by greeting voters on the South Side, at the 95ht/Dan Ryan CTA Red Line and a 4th Ward polling place, before heading up to the Roosevelt CTA stop to greet voters there. By lunchtime he made his way to the traditional Election Day stop for most Chicago area politicians: Manny's Deli, where he spoke to reporters and greeted other candidates and politicians in the eatery.
Bailey greeted suburban voters Tuesday morning at the Palatine Train Station, his campaign said.
This makes Pritzker the first Democrat elected to a third term as Illinois governor. He his new Lieutenant Governor is Christian Mitchell, who replaced Stratton on the ballot after she won the primary for U.S. Senate in Illinois. Mitchell, who previous served three terms as an Illinois state representative, has been a deputy governor in Pritzker's administration since 2019.
Pritzker far outspent Bailey in the race, spending nearly $24 million from July through September compared to less than $1 million spent by Bailey.
Bailey previously lost in the race for governor against Pritzker in 2022. A farmer in southern Illinois, he made a name for himself as a state senator during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he unsuccessfully fought Pritzker's executive orders on masking in most public settings. In this second bid for governor, he is running with Cook County Republican Party Chairman Aaron Del Mar.
Both candidates were out and about on Election Day, urging voters to get out and cast their ballots.
"Lots of energy out there, voters are getting out to vote, all over the country, especially here in the state of Illinois, we're seeing an over-performance, so that's good for Democrats," Pritzker said at a traditional Election Day stop at Manny's Deli in Chicago.
"It's an amazing day today, it's Election Day, if you think that your vote doesn't count, yet you're frustrated with the status quo, just please get out and vote," Bailey said while greeting voters at Palatine Train Station.
