SE Illinois News

Darren Bailey, a former state senator and the 2022 GOP candidate for governor, has criticized the Illinois Education Association (IEA) for its alleged political bias. Bailey, who is also running for Congressional District 12, accused the IEA of financially supporting his opponent, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), during his tenure in the state Legislature and questioned their stance on various issues.

“The same IEA who gave my opponent nearly $50,000 when he was in the state Legislature and fought to shut down schools, cancel graduations, mask our kids, and take rights away from parents is now attacking a great representative Blaine Wilhour,” Bailey said on Facebook. “We need to hold them accountable and not bow down to special interests.”

Bailey shared a video from State Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City), highlighting the IEA’s refusal to meet with him for a candidate interview. In the video, Wilhour expressed frustration with the IEA’s lack of interest in discussing important issues and labeled the organization as obstructive to reforms needed in Illinois.

“They don’t care about reforming Illinois and doing everything that we need to do. This is not a grassroots uprising against me here,” Wilhour asserted in the Facebook video. “This is a handpicked candidate from the Illinois Education Association.”

Despite Wilhour’s willingness to engage with the IEA and answer questions, he claimed they left without showing any interest in dialogue. He emphasized his opposition to the IEA’s endorsement, stating, “I don’t want their endorsement” and criticized the organization for hindering Illinois’ financial recovery and job creation.

“I fought for you and the Illinois Education Association was forcing masks on your kids,” Wilhour said in the video.

Earlier this year, according to Prairie State Wire, the IEA made false claims stating that "more white students are helped" by the Invest in Kids Act scholarships, despite statistics showing a diverse distribution of awards. Scholarships were awarded to Black, Hispanic, and white students.

The Illinois Freedom Caucus labeled IEA’s opposition to the Invest in Kids Act as "a disgrace," as reported by Prairie State Wire. The act aimed at providing scholarships for underprivileged students was not renewed.

Bailey hails from a lineage of farmers and currently owns and operates the Bailey Family Farm with his sons, according to his website.

Illinois’ 12 Congressional District includes Monroe, Randolph, Clinton, Perry, Jackson, Union, Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Johnson, Williamson, Jefferson, Marion, Clay, Effingham, Wayne, Hamilton, Saline, Pope, Hardin, Gallatin, White, Edwards, Wabash, Richland, Lawrence, Jasper, Crawford, Cumberland and Clark Counties as well as most of St. Clair County, and half of Coles County. Bost has held the seat since 2015, according to GovTrack.