SE Illinois News

Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is intent on turning Illinois back into a state of the people.

“This was not something I wanted to do, but I feel the need to in order to restore integrity in state government,” Bailey told the SE Illinois News soon after formally launching his challenge to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“This is a direct response to all the people that have been reaching out to us for help from all over the state,” he said. “This is about turning Illinois around and finally getting us back on track.”

Bailey said that all starts with reeling in Pritzker’ and ultimately showing him the door.

“I think I’ve been the only one standing up against all the wrongs he’s perpetrated on Illinois over the last two years,” he said. “I chose to sue the governor and call him out on his abuse of executive orders in the way he’s handled the pandemic. I continue to stick out my neck when others chose to stick their heads in the sand. Illinois needs real leadership.”

Bailey said his campaign is about taking the state back from what he calls “the political elites,” whom he claims have turned their backs on common voters.

“I can’t look at anything Pritzker’s done since being in office that’s worked well for most people,” he said. “Right now, Democrats are the party of confusion, and it’s been the case of the billionaire leader who’s had everything given to him that leaves him with no track record of accomplishment to lean on.”

In contrast, the 54-year-old Bailey said his tenure would be guided “by the lessons that I’ve learned from faith, family and community.”

As he weighed making a run or throwing his support behind another GOP candidate, Bailey said one thing keeps ringing true to him.

“I was hearing the word compromise too much,” he said. “The truth is Republicans have been just getting along for the last 30-plus years, and it’s not working for us. We need to be taking a stand for the people of this state, and that’s why I’m going to win this race.”

The election is in 2022.