September 22, 2026 — Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey took his campaign directly to CTA commuters, arguing that everyday living costs and crime concerns are eroding traditional Democratic loyalties in Chicago.
At the Belmont ‘L’ station, Bailey attributed an estimated 1,600-officer shortage in the Chicago Police Department directly to the state’s SAFE-T Act and Springfield Democrats. He pledged a “day one” repeal of the criminal justice law, warning it has battered police morale and undercut enforcement, while urging riders to scrutinize judicial retention candidates at the ballot box.
On fiscal policy, Bailey pitched a one percent statutory cap on residential property tax assessments alongside reductions in fuel, utility, and corporate taxes to reverse outbound migration.
“Businesses want to be here—they’re centrally located. We’ve got to put the shingle out and say, ‘Hey, you’re welcome again,’ and give business a reason to stay and a reason to relocate back to Illinois,” Bailey said.
He dismissed warnings from Governor J.B. Pritzker and budget analysts that the state cannot afford broad tax cuts. “Look either side, east to west, into Indiana or Iowa, because they are doing it,” Bailey said. “They don’t have near the gas tax that we do. Their roads are better than ours, and their schools are outperforming ours.”
Campaigning as a downstate conservative in the city, Bailey rejected claims that Chicago and rural Illinois share irreconcilable interests, saying affordability and safety are universal concerns.
“The problem with Illinois is we can’t afford to live here. That’s not a Republican or a Democrat problem. That’s a ‘we’ problem,” Bailey said. “Four years ago... I don’t think Chicago was feeling the impact of the SAFE-T Act. They weren’t feeling the financial burden. They’re feeling all of that now. We’ve got way more in common than we have that separates us.”
