3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · JB Pritzker currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Affordability for Illinois households.
Protecting abortion access in Illinois.
Clean energy investment.
Defending Illinois's immigration laws, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement — he defended them before a congressional committee.
Opposing Trump administration policies.
State investment in schools and in quantum computing and other technology sectors.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Governor of Illinois since January 2019; re-elected in 2022 by about 13 points over Darren Bailey.
Heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune; former venture investor.
Signed a state budget adding about $800 million a year in new taxes.
Proposed a roughly $53 billion budget including funding for migrant services, quantum computing and schools; Illinois had spent more than $2.5 billion on migrant care by the end of 2025.
Defended Illinois's immigration laws in testimony before a congressional committee.
Was unopposed in the March 17 2026 Democratic primary.
Signed legislation raising Illinois's minimum wage to $15.
Arguments in favor
He has protected abortion access in Illinois and raised the minimum wage, and says his opponent 'wants to lower the minimum wage' and 'take away a woman's right to choose.'
— JB Pritzker, Democratic nominee
He has been the most visible governor standing against the Trump administration, including defending Illinois's immigration laws in person before Congress.
— JB Pritzker for Governor campaign
His budgets have paired school funding with investment in new industries such as quantum computing.
— JB Pritzker for Governor campaign
Arguments against
'The Governor just proposed raising taxes on every Illinois family struggling to make ends meet to fund the non-citizen welfare state he created.'
— John Curran, Illinois Senate Republican leader
Voters should 'stop another four years of billionaire leadership that doesn't understand your life, your bills, or your struggle.'
— Darren Bailey, Republican nominee
He signed a budget adding about $800 million a year in new taxes in a state already among the most heavily taxed, while Illinois spent more than $2.5 billion on migrant care.
— Illinois Republicans, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon and Illinois Policy Institute
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
Whether he would commit to serving a full third term rather than running for president in 2028; no direct statement was located.
His specific affordability proposals for a third term.
His campaign finance totals were not located; he has largely self-funded past campaigns.
Property tax relief, lower utility bills and cost of living — 'focusing on what people do agree on, 80/20 that's affordability, getting our property taxes, getting our utility bills, getting cost of living under control, that safety, protecting our people.'
Repealing the SAFE-T Act, Illinois's criminal justice and bail law.
Cutting state spending, including through a commission modelled on the federal Department of Government Efficiency.
Immigration enforcement.
On abortion: 'I will not be legislating nor restricting abortion,' citing Illinois's existing protections.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Republican nominee for governor of Illinois in 2022; lost to JB Pritzker by about 13 points.
Former member of the Illinois House and Illinois Senate; a farmer from downstate Illinois.
In 2022 campaigned on restricting abortion access and expanding gun rights, and called Chicago a 'hellhole,' for which he later apologised.
Won the March 17 2026 Republican primary over Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner.
Has said he agrees with President Trump on some issues but not others.
Chose Cook County Republican Party chair Aaron Del Mar as his running mate, in part to court suburban voters.
Arguments in favor
He has rebuilt the campaign around what he calls 80/20 issues — property taxes, utility bills, cost of living and safety — rather than the social issues that defined his 2022 run.
— Darren Bailey for Governor campaign
He would repeal the SAFE-T Act and create a state efficiency commission to cut spending in a state carrying among the highest tax burdens in the country.
— Darren Bailey for Governor campaign
He has committed not to legislate or restrict abortion in Illinois — 'I will not be legislating nor restricting abortion' — and picked a Cook County running mate to reach suburban voters.
— Darren Bailey for Governor campaign
Arguments against
'Bailey wants to be the Donald Trump of Illinois. He wants to lower the minimum wage. He wants to take away a woman's right to choose.'
— JB Pritzker, Democratic nominee
His own running mate, Aaron Del Mar, has said Pritzker is 'willing to murder millions of babies' and that 'nobody wants to make Illinois a mecca for abortions,' which undercuts Bailey's promise not to touch abortion. The campaign says those were Del Mar's personal beliefs and not its position.
— Aaron Del Mar, his running mate, as reported by WBEZ
'Darren Bailey is a disaster in the suburbs. It's why Pritzker wanted to run against him four years ago and does again.'
— Ted Dabrowski, his Republican primary opponent
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
His exact share of the March primary vote — Wikipedia says about 54%, Capitol News Illinois about 50%.
How property tax relief would be funded, given that Illinois property taxes are levied locally.
'We don't need more government — we need better neighbors, stronger communities, and leaders who actually serve.'
Government serving citizens rather than elites.
Leadership as lifting burdens and protecting what he describes as God-given rights rather than accumulating power.
Through his running mate: evidence-based policy, individual liberty, ending the revolving door between industry and regulators, and protecting civil liberties and free speech.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Pastor and community leader with about 25 years in ministry and addiction recovery work.
Independence Party candidate for governor of Illinois in 2026, running with Alejandro Cabrera.
Has not held elected office.
The ticket needs 5% of the vote to establish Independence Party ballot access in Illinois.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
Detailed policy positions on taxes, education, health care and public safety could not be established beyond the general framing on his campaign site.
No organised advocacy for his candidacy and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found, so no arguments are listed on either side.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Democratic incumbent JB Pritzker is seeking a third term. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, Ballotpedia, Capitol News Illinois, Chicago Sun-Times, CBS Chicago, NPR Illinois and WBEZ, cross-checked. Pritzker was unopposed in the March 17 2026 Democratic primary; former state Senator Darren Bailey won the Republican primary over Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner — Wikipedia puts his share at about 54% and Capitol News Illinois at about 50%, so the figure is uncertain. This is a rematch of the 2022 election, which Pritzker won by about 13 points, and the first Illinois gubernatorial rematch since 1986. Illinois elects governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket: Pritzker runs with Christian Mitchell, Bailey with Cook County Republican chair Aaron Del Mar. A third ticket, Gary Pierce and Alejandro Cabrera of the Independence Party, is also on the ballot and is seeking 5% of the vote to establish ballot access.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Illinois ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Illinois State Board of Elections.