Illinois governor primary election results: Pritzker to face Trump-backed Bailey in November

CHICAGO - Illinois Republicans on Tuesday chose conservative state Sen. Darren Bailey to take on Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire who easily won the Democratic nomination and who spent millions trying to get the rival he wants and increase his already sizable advantage in the state this fall.

Bailey, who defeated five other Republicans to win the nomination, is a farmer and staunch abortion opponent who received former President Donald Trump’s endorsement Saturday.

Pritzker immediately framed the race as a referendum on the former president, who Illinois voters twice rejected by double digits. Taking the stage at his victory party, Pritzker told the crowd, "I’m going to beat Donald Trump’s candidate for governor, Darren Bailey."

"Let me be clear, someone who seeks out and accepts the endorsement of a racist, misogynistic, homophobic, xenophobic, twice-impeached former president does not deserve to come anywhere near this state’s highest office," Pritzker said from a hotel in Chicago.

Bailey raised his statewide profile during the pandemic by opposing Pritzker’s COVID-19 measures. He sued Pritzker over a stay-at-home order the governor issued, and was escorted off the floor of the Legislature for refusing to wear a mask.

On Tuesday, Bailey criticized "elites" like Pritzker, the GOP establishment and others who say he cannot win in November. He pledged to outwork his opponent and stand up for regular, working people across Illinois.

"We were outspent by tens of millions of dollars in the primary and look what happened tonight. This is how it’s done," Bailey said.

He later added, "Here’s a tip and some advice for J.B. Pritzker: Start packing, friend, because on Nov. 8, you’re fired."

Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune who is seeking his second term, and the Democratic Governors Association spent heavily on advertising to help Bailey win the GOP primary, including with ads noting he is "100% pro-life." While those messages have raised Bailey’s standing with Republican voters, they are likely to hurt him in a general election in a place where Democrats control all statewide offices and Trump lost handily.

Republican Richard Irvin, a former prosecutor who was the first Black mayor of Illinois’ second-largest city, was seen as a top candidate when he joined the race, with financial backing from billionaire Ken Griffin. Irvin argued that he was the only GOP candidate who could beat Pritzker in November because he could win votes from Republicans, independents and some Democrats. But despite Griffin sinking $50 million into Irvin’s campaign, he was damaged by repeated attacks from his rivals, including Pritzker.

Unlike the other GOP candidates, Irvin avoided talking about whether he voted for Trump. The mayor of Aurora instead focused on issues such as crime in Chicago and legislation signed by Pritzker that he said made policing harder. He said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother.

In a concession speech Tuesday, Irvin criticized Pritzker’s "meddling" in the primary and wished Bailey well in the general election.

"Listen, I hope this governor is wrong in his assessment that he can easily defeat the opponent he paid tens of millions of dollars to face. But if this governor is correct and if he does easily prevail, we as citizens must rise up," Irvin said.

Tim Zink, a 70-year-old retiree, wore a National Rifle Association T-shirt as he cast his ballot in the northern Illinois town of McHenry for Bailey.

"I just like the way he stands on just about everything," Zink said. He added that he didn’t trust Irvin, whom he called "two-faced" and "friends with Pritzker."

Joe Berstein, from the northern Chicago suburb of Highland Park, voted for Pritzker: "So far I think he’s doing a good job."

The other Republican candidates are business owner Gary Rabine, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf and attorney Max Solomon.

Pritzker defeated a much lesser-known rival, Beverly Miles, for the nomination.

Results will begin to display after polls close at 7 p.m.

CLICK OR TAP TO RETURN TO MASTER ELECTION RESULTS LIST

Billionaire businessmen Ken Griffin and Richard Uihlein — among the country’s biggest Republican donors — have combined to pour more than $60 million into the race. Griffin backs Irvin and Uihlein supports Bailey.

Pritzker, meanwhile, along with the Democratic Governors Association, has spent millions trying to ensure Irvin, an Army veteran and Aurora mayor, isn’t the GOP nominee.

The money has funded a monthslong barrage of ads that have attacked Irvin and propped up Bailey, the opponent Pritzker would rather face in November. The ads note Bailey’s strident far-right positions, including being "100% pro-life," and his allegiance to former President Donald Trump — qualities that may help Bailey in a Republican primary but would be a liability for a general election in a state Trump twice lost by double digits. Trump endorsed him at a rally Saturday night in Mendon.

Pritzker, who ran against West Side native Beverly Miles, joined his Lieutenant Governor Tuesday, greeting voters all over Chicago.

They began at the 95th Street Red Line stop, the site of a shooting last month.

Neither candidate talked about the violence plaguing the city, but rather focused on the recent overturning of abortion rights, as well as LGTBQ rights and civil rights.

The governor and Illinois' First Lady joined Sen. Tammy Duckworth Tuesday night at the Marriott Marquis in the South Loop. 

The governor is already looking toward the midterm election.

"I feel great about our prospects in November, and I’m excited to take on these Trump-backed Republicans and beat them," said Pritzker.

Gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey was in downstate Lewisville Tuesday to cast his vote.

State Sen. Darren Bailey is at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Effingham — which will serve as his campaign headquarters.

The most recent poll showed Bailey with a 15-point lead in the Republican primary race, and he got a big boost over the weekend when he was endorsed onstage by former President Donald Trump during a downstate rally.

While the Trump endorsement will certainly help him among Illinois Republicans, Democrats are sure to use it against him.

"It's a two-step dance to get elected. It's great to win the primary, but if you can't win the general election, then it's all for naught," said former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar.

Republican Richard Irvin, a former prosecutor who was the first Black mayor of Illinois’ second-largest city, was seen as a top candidate when he joined the race, with financial backing from billionaire Ken Griffin. But despite Griffin sinking $50 million into Irvin’s campaign, he was damaged by repeated attacks from his rivals, including Pritzker.

Unlike Bailey and his four other rivals, Irvin avoided talking about abortion or saying whether he voted for Trump. 

The mayor of Aurora instead focused on issues such as crime in Chicago and legislation signed by Pritzker that he said made policing harder. 

He said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the life of the mother.

Irvin also argued that he was the only GOP candidate who could beat Pritzker in November because he could win votes from Republicans, independents and some Democrats.

In a concession speech Tuesday, Irvin criticized Pritzker’s "meddling" in the primary and wished Bailey well in the general election.

"Listen, I hope this governor is wrong in his assessment that he can easily defeat the opponent he paid tens of millions of dollars to face. But if this governor is correct and if he does easily prevail, we as citizens must rise up," Irvin said.

Tim Zink, a 70-year-old retiree, wore a National Rifle Association T-shirt as he cast his ballot in the northern Illinois town of McHenry for Bailey.

"I just like the way he stands on just about everything," Zink said. He added that he didn’t trust Irvin, whom he called "two-faced" and "friends with Pritzker."

Joe Berstein, from the northern Chicago suburb of Highland Park, voted for Pritzker: "So far I think he’s doing a good job."

The other Republican candidates are business owner Gary Rabine, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf and attorney Max Solomon.

Pritzker defeated a much lesser-known rival, Beverly Miles, for the nomination. He has said he’s not afraid of any rival heading into November.

"I’ll face anybody on the other side of the aisle and we’ll win," Pritzker said.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE FOX 32 YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Bailey has built a reputation during three years in the Legislature as an uncompromising conservative unafraid to take people on.

"People say J.B. Pritzker wants me to win this primary because he believes that I’m the easiest opponent to beat," Bailey said during a campaign stop at a restaurant. "Well, I’ve got news for J.B. Pritzker: Be careful what you wish for because it’s coming. Friends, we’re going to win on Nov. 8."

The three billionaires — Pritzker, Griffin and Uihlein — have a long history of clashing politically in Illinois and elsewhere.

Griffin, the founder and CEO of hedge fund company Citadel, has been a vocal critic of Pritzker’s administration, particularly over the issue of crime in Chicago. In addition to the $50 million he gave Irvin this cycle, he also spent millions to help get former Gov. Bruce Rauner elected in 2014 and on Rauner’s loss to Pritzker in 2018. He bankrolled a successful campaign to block Pritzker and other Democrats from changing Illinois’ tax structure to levy more on the highest earners.

In 2020, Griffin gave $37 million to the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, making him the PAC’s second-largest individual donor, according to OpenSecrets, which tracks campaign spending.

Asked at a forum last year if he would support Trump should he run for president in 2024, Griffin replied, "I think it’s time for America to move on," adding that Trump had been "pointlessly divisive."

In a statement to The Associated Press, Griffin criticized Pritzker for "interfering" in the GOP primary, saying "spending tens of millions of dollars in cahoots with his cronies attacking the most successful Black political leader in Illinois is despicable." Pritzker has defended his actions, saying an ad attacking Irvin is "telling the truth."

Uihlein, a founder of the office supply company Uline Inc., is a major Trump supporter who has a long record of donating to far-right candidates and groups. That includes PACs and people strongly opposed to abortion, and the House Freedom Fund, which backs the most conservative candidates and strongest Trump backers.

The other candidates seeking the GOP nomination are businessman Gary Rabine, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf and attorney Max Solomon. Pritzker’s only rival in the Democratic primary is Beverly Miles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.