Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker campaign declares victory over GOP challenger Darren Bailey
CHICAGO — Wealthy progressive Democrat J.B. Pritzker was elected to a second term as Illinois governor Tuesday, overwhelming the rural and religious-based conservative candidacy of state Sen. Darren Bailey.
With 10% of the state’s precincts counted, Pritzker had 61% of the vote to Bailey's 36% amid indications that Democrats had more than overcome concerns at the statewide level of a potential surge of anti-incumbent attitudes fueling Republicans.
A survey of Illinois voters conducted by The Associated Press and the NORC at the University of Chicago showed Pritzker held a 55% favorable, 43% unfavorable rating, while Bailey was viewed unfavorably by half the voters and favorably by only 38% of them.
Underscoring Illinois’ status as a blue state in statewide elections, Illinois voters held a 50% to 49% favorable-to-unfavorable view of President Joe Biden. Donald Trump, eyeing a potential 2024 White House bid and losing Illinois twice by 17% in 2016 and 2020, was viewed unfavorably by 59% of the state’s voters compared to 40% who looked at the former president favorably.
Bailey’s candidacy was endorsed by Trump.
The voting concluded more than
