Pritzker Funds $65 Million Bid for Third Term as Bailey Raises Under $1 Million

Gov. JB Pritzker is spending his own money to secure a third term in Illinois, a move that contrasts sharply with the fundraising totals of his Republican opponent. Pritzker, whose personal wealth is estimated at $4 billion by Forbes, contributed $65 million to his campaign last month. His opponent, Darren Bailey, raised approximately $633,000 during the third quarter of 2026. By the start of October, Bailey had just over $431,000 in campaign finance records.

Bailey, a downstate farmer and former state legislator, faces a substantial financial gap after losing to Pritzker by more than 12 percentage points in 2022. Despite President Donald Trump voicing support for Bailey on multiple occasions, the former state lawmaker has distanced himself from many of the president's economic policies. Pritzker is seeking a term not seen in Illinois for about 40 years, and his victory is widely expected given the spending disparity.

The Senate race offers a similar dynamic of incumbency advantage. Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is challenging Republican Don Tracy for the seat of retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Stratton, 61, won her primary in March against two sitting members of Congress. She has campaigned on a $25 minimum wage and a Medicare for All plan. Tracy, a central Illinois attorney and former state GOP chairman, is expected to face a difficult contest against the lieutenant governor.

In Chicago, voters face a structural change in local governance. For the first time, the entire 21-member Chicago Board of Education will be elected. Twenty members will serve in specific subdistricts, while one president will be elected district-wide. The board oversees the budget and policies for Chicago Public Schools, which serves more than 316,000 students and 45,000 employees.

The race for board president has drawn the most attention and spending. More than $6 million has been spent in the contest as of mid-October. Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez, and Victor P. Henderson remain active candidates. Common Ground Collective, backed by billionaire Michael Sacks, has spent about $2.6 million, including $846,000 on advertising this month against Dominguez. Dominguez is backed by the Chicago Teachers Union, while Biggs has support from several unions and about a dozen city council members.

A key issue in the school board race is how to manage the district's finances without new state funding. Some candidates support closing schools with low enrollment, a position Dominguez and the teachers union have rejected. Dominguez also faced a renewed investigation into years-old allegations of inappropriate conduct with a teenager. The CPS inspector general said last week that there was not sufficient evidence of sexual misconduct, a finding Dominguez called a political smear.

The 4th Congressional District election is also unusual due to a late decision by incumbent Rep. Jesus "Chuy" Garcia to retire. Garcia, 70, cited health concerns for his decision. His late withdrawal allowed his chief of staff, Patty Garcia, to win the Democratic nomination unopposed. The two are not related. Lyons Mayor Chris Getty became the only independent candidate to make the ballot after other challengers failed to gather enough signatures. Working Class Party candidate Ed Hershey and Republican Lupe Castillo complete the field.

The district has voted Democratic in the two previous cycles. Chuy Garcia won by approximately 40 percentage points in both 2022 and 2024, years when Republicans won the House. Other congressional races in Illinois are expected to be less contentious. Democrat La Shawn Ford is favored to win the 7th District, and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss is the favorite in the 9th District. These outcomes would place a younger generation of politicians in the Illinois delegation.

Pritzker has not directly confirmed plans to run for president in 2028, though speculation continues. During a WTTW debate last week, he said he wants Democrats to win back Congress to provide checks and balances against the administration. He has traveled the country and donated to Democratic candidates in other states. Major candidates for the 2028 presidential nomination are expected to begin announcing their plans in the first half of 2027.