Earlier, Bailey was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 109th district in Southern Illinois. Darren Bailey was also chosen as the Republican nominee for the 2022 Illinois Gubernatorial Election.
He is a lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee and has previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives. Bailey had opposed Pritzker’s pandemic restrictions over the last two years, which led to several controversies in the news.
Bailey made headlines in 2020 when he sued Governor J.B. Pritzker, claiming that the governor’s extension of the stay-at-home order to control the pandemic was unfair and negatively impacted the residents of Clay County.
A judge later granted a temporary restraining order against the stay-at-home order, though it only applied to Bailey and resulted in a messy aftermath. Bailey recently gained attention after winning the Republican gubernatorial primary in Illinois.
Who is Darren Bailey?
Born on March 17, 1966, in Louisville, Illinois, Darren Bailey is a Republican politician who has served in both the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives. He is known for his strong conservative views and was the Republican candidate in the 2022 Illinois governor’s race, where he lost to the governor, J.B. Pritzker.
Bailey is now running against Mike Bost in the Republican primary for the 12th congressional district in the 2024 House elections.
Early Life and Education
Bailey spent his childhood in Illinois and graduated from North Clay High School. He later earned an Associate of Science degree in Agricultural Production from Lake Land College. This education helped shape his deep involvement in farming and rural life.
Career and Political Rise
Bailey started his career in farming, working on his family’s farm alongside his sons. The farm, which grows corn, wheat, and soybeans, provided him with financial security. He later stepped into politics by joining the North Clay Board of Education, where he was known for supporting property tax increases.
His political journey continued as he won elections for both the Illinois House and Senate, helping him gain influence in state government.
Political Views
Bailey supports conservative policies. He strongly opposes abortion and has consistently voted against laws that protect abortion rights. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Bailey stated that he supported a statewide abortion ban, except in situations where the mother’s life is at risk.
He has also spoken against the SAFE-T Act and once supported the idea of making Chicago a separate state. However, he later backed away from this position.
Darren Bailey’s net worth
Darren Bailey’s net worth is estimated to be between $8 million and $10 million. He faced serious trouble in May 2020 when the Illinois House voted 81–27 to remove him from its session because he refused to wear a mask. However, Bailey understood the importance of the situation and wore a face mask the next day when he attended the House, following the required rules.
Bailey announced his candidacy for Governor of Illinois in the 2022 Gubernatorial Elections. In 2021, he revealed that his running mate for Lieutenant Governor would be former WLS-AM 890 talk radio host Stephanie Trussell. Bailey has been involved in several committees, including Agriculture, Education, Energy and Public Utilities, Health, Higher Education, and Labor.
Election History
Bailey has won several important elections. In 2018, he defeated the current officeholder, David Reis, in the Republican primary and later won the general election against Democratic candidate Cynthia Given.
In 2020, he secured a seat in the Illinois 55th State Senate District. His run for governor in 2022 did not lead to a victory, but he performed better than previous Republican candidates in the state.
Family Life
Darren Bailey is married to Cindy Stortzum, and they have four children and several grandchildren. Together, they operate a private Christian school, reflecting their strong dedication to faith and education.
Philanthropy and Community Involvement
There is not much detailed information about Bailey’s charitable work. However, his role in education and farming indicates that he is involved in efforts to support and develop his community.
Controversies
Bailey has faced criticism throughout his political career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he refused to wear a mask, which led to his temporary removal from an Illinois House session.
He was also criticized for comments made after the Highland Park Parade Shooting in 2022. His positions on issues such as abortion and the SAFE-T Act have placed him at the center of heated political debates.
What Does Bailey Say About His Victory?
In 2022 Bailey said his victory sent a strong message to the establishment and political elites, making it clear that they will not be ignored. He emphasized that the voices of “working families, parents, taxpayers, law enforcement, and everyday citizens” were heard, including voices from “the farms, the suburbs, the city of Chicago, and every place in-between.”
Bailey faced criticism earlier when, during his campaign, he called Chicago a “hellhole” in a statement celebrating his victory. As a state senator, Bailey supported a resolution to separate Chicago from the rest of Illinois.
Bailey has also stated that his goal is to “Fire Pritzker” in November, taking a jab at his opponent’s positions on taxes, law enforcement, abortion, and more. Bailey had also opposed some of the rules during the pandemic.
Darren Bailey had a decisive victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary elections in Illinois.
According to reports, with about 33% of the votes counted, Bailey had received 53.5% of the vote, while Jesse Sullivan got 16.9% and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin received 16.5%. Below is a social media post from Bailey where he shares updates on the ongoing process and more.
When talking about his win, Bailey rejected the idea that he couldn’t win and criticized “establishment Republicans” for contributing to decades of mismanagement in the state. He said he wants to send a message to the Republican establishment that they cannot bully others into sacrificing their principles to elect a candidate.
[Updated: 04/01/2025]
