By Frank Conklin, The Chicago Times
June 28, 2022
CHICAGO — Illinois voters have chosen incumbent Governor J. B. Pritzker and Republican State Senator Darren Bailey to battle for the Illinois governorship in November.
Pritzker trampled unknown Democrat challenger, Beverly Miles, paving the way for his fight for a second term.
Bailey won the nomination in lighting speed Tuesday over five other Republican challengers.
The wealthy Pritzker, born in California and heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune amassed by previous generations, is estimated to be worth 3.5 billion. In 2017, Pritzker was caught on a 2008 FBI wiretap in conversation with disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) discussing campaign contributions and “options” for Pritzker to be appointed to statewide office. The FBI described Pritzker as a “businessman with political ambitions”. The tapes caught Blagojevich asking Pritzker if he would like to be appointed state treasurer. Pritzker, co-founder of the Pritzker Group Private Capital, responded to Blagojevich “Yeah, that’s the one I would want.”
Bailey, born in Louisville, Illinois, is a farmer from Xenia and holds a degree in Agricultural Production from Lake Land College. In 2018, Bailey defeated Illinois State Representative David Reis in the Republican primary for the Illinois House of Representatives District 109 and went on to defeat Democrat candidate Cynthia Given. In 2019, Bailey announced his run for the Illinois Senate. In a rematch for higher office, Bailey defeated Democrat challenger Cynthia Given in the general election.
“We’re going to send a message to the Republican establishment that we will not be bullied into sacrificing our principles to elect their candidates.” Bailey said in a statement.
“I feel great about our prospects in November,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I’ll face anybody on the other side of the aisle and we’ll win.”
The Chicago Times 