The 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Illinois. Democratic incumbent JB Pritzker is seeking a third term. He is being challenged by Republican former nominee Darren Bailey.
Primary elections were held on March 17, 2026. Pritzker secured the Democratic nomination unopposed, while Darren Bailey secured the Republican nomination with 54% of the vote. Pritzker selected Christian Mitchell as his running mate, as incumbent lieutenant governor Julianna Stratton is running for U.S. Senate.
This is the first gubernatorial rematch in Illinois since 1986.
Background A moderately to strongly blue state, Illinois has a reputation for being both the most populous and the most left-leaning state in the Midwest, traits vastly owed to the progressive and diverse Chicago metropolitan area. Though the state has historically favored Republicans for governor, Democrats have won all but one gubernatorial race in Illinois since 2002, the exception being Bruce Rauner's narrow victory in 2014. In addition, Democrats have won Illinois by double-digit margins in every presidential race since 1992; and consistently occupied all of its statewide offices since 2019.
Incumbent governor JB Pritzker, a member of the Democratic Party, has comfortably won in the past two elections, having first been elected with a 15.6% lead in 2018 and won re-election by 12.5% in 2022. Despite the state's strong Democratic lean, Republicans are comfortably favored in most of rural Illinois, especially in much of West Central and Southern Illinois. Illinois is one of 16 states that do not have gubernatorial term limits. If Pritzker were to win, he would be the first governor elected to a third term since Jim Thompson in 1982.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee JB Pritzker, incumbent governor (2019–present) Running mate: Christian Mitchell, former deputy governor (2019–2023) and former state representative (2013–2019)
Disqualified Patricia Tillman, former candidate for Chicago City Council Running mate: Joseph Mosley
Endorsements
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Darren Bailey, former state senator from the 55th district (2021–2023), nominee for governor in 2022, and candidate for Illinois's 12th congressional district in 2024 Running mate: Aaron Del Mar, Palatine Township Highway Commissioner, chair of the Cook County Republican Party, and candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022 Eliminated in primary Ted Dabrowski, conservative news website president Running mate: Carrie Mendoza, leader of FAIR In Medicine Rick Heidner, real estate developer Running mate: Christina Neitzke-Troike, mayor of Homer Glen James Mendrick, DuPage County Sheriff (2018–present) Running mate: Robert Renteria, author and businessman
Withdrawn Phil Perez, member of the Posen Park District Commission Max Solomon, attorney and candidate for governor in 2022 (running a write-in campaign for State Treasurer) Running mate: Geno Young, musician and candidate for Illinois's 1st congressional district in 2022
Disqualified Joseph Severino, capital management professional, nominee for in 2022 and independent candidate in 2024 Running mate: Rantch Isquith, bank examiner
Declined Scott Gartner, mayor of Antioch (2021–present) Jeanne Ives, former state representative from the 42nd district (2013–2019), candidate for governor in 2018, and nominee for in 2020 (endorsed Dabrowski) Darin LaHood, U.S. representative from (2015–present) (running for re-election) Dan Ugaste, state representative from the 65th district (2019–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DarrenBailey TedDabrowski RickHeidner JamesMendrick Other UndecidedOsage Research (R)January 20–23, 2026412 (LV)± 5.7%57%8%9%4%–22%Emerson College/WGN-TVJanuary 3–5, 2026432 (LV)± 4.7%34%8%1%5%4%46%
Results
Third-party and independent candidates
Declared Independents Collin Corbett, former Republican campaign strategist Running mate: Carolyn Schofield, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022
Illinois Solidarity Party Declared Write-In Michael Vick, podcaster and pro-life activist Running mate: Gary Pierce, minister
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportAugust 20, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallAugust 12, 2026Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JBPritzker (D) DarrenBailey (R) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)September 30 – October 1, 2026569 (LV)54%34%6%6%Victory ResearchNovember 20–24, 20251,208 (LV)± 2.8%54%34%12%
Results
See also 2026 United States elections 2026 Illinois elections 2026 United States Senate election in Illinois 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Darren Bailey (R) Collin Corbett (I) JB Pritzker (D)