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Politics

Trump-Backed Bailey Wins Illinois GOP Governor Primary — With Democrats’ Help

  • Incumbent Governor Pritzker will face Bailey in November
  • Democrats seek to keep Trump on ballot to draw contrast
Darren Bailey greets former President Donald Trump after receiving an endorsement during a Save America Rally in Mendon, Illinois, on June 25.

Darren Bailey greets former President Donald Trump after receiving an endorsement during a Save America Rally in Mendon, Illinois, on June 25.

Photographer: Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images 

Illinois’ Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker will seek re-election in November against Republican Darren Bailey, a state senator backed by former President Donald Trump, whose conservative candidacy got an unlikely boost -- from Democrats.

Bailey, a Bible-quoting farmer from downstate, won the Republican primary with 57% of the votes as of 11 p.m. New York time Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Richard Irvin, the mayor of the state’s second-largest city who was seen as an early front-runner because his campaign received $50 million from billionaire Ken Griffin, garnered about 16% of the vote in the primary. Jesse Sullivan, one of the other four Republicans in the gubernatorial primary, also got 16%.