Republican nominee Darren Bailey is facing a challenging campaign against Democratic Governor JB Pritzker in the November 3 general election. Bailey has raised approximately $1.33 million since winning the March 17 GOP primary but has also spent over $1.28 million according to campaign finance records. This amount surpasses other Republican statewide candidates, including U.S. Senate nominee Don Tracy. Tracy is running against Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.
Bailey, formerly a conservative lawmaker from southern Illinois, started July with under $128,000 in his campaign account. In contrast, Pritzker had over $3.1 million remaining. Lacking megadonor support from his previous campaign, Bailey has relied on small donations. Nearly half of his funds came from donors giving under $150, which do not require identity disclosure.
On June 30, Bailey’s campaign sent a fundraising request highlighting a need to raise an additional $5,397. In a video appeal, Bailey urged supporters for contributions, emphasizing the importance of every dollar in challenging Pritzker. Pritzker, a billionaire, has already invested heavily in his campaign. This financial gap creates opportunities for independent candidates like Collin Corbett, who entered the ballot this week with over $379,000, largely from a personal loan.
Campaign Spending
There is a notable difference in spending between Pritzker and Bailey’s campaigns. From April to June, Pritzker spent nearly $6.9 million on advertising and $858,000 on campaign staff salaries. Bailey, however, allocated over $914,000, primarily on direct mail fundraising. His total spending on staff salaries was only $39,000 with additional costs on campaign consulting.
Corbett, now officially on the ballot, anticipates increased donations, stating many donors wanted confirmation of his candidacy before contributing. He criticizes Bailey’s use of funds, suggesting supporters might be displeased with their contribution allocation.
Senate Race and Statewide Campaigns
In the race for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Juliana Stratton significantly outpaced Don Tracy in fundraising, with $1.1 million compared to Tracy’s $133,000. Despite cross-party financial support from Dot Foods, Tracy continues to invest personal funds into his campaign to bridge the gap.
Statewide, the Republican party struggles against better-funded Democratic candidates holding all statewide offices in Illinois. Gary Rabine remains Bailey’s major contributor, donating $25,000 for the general election. In other races, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias holds $21.8 million in campaign funds as he considers a mayoral run. Meanwhile, GOP contender Diane Harris has far fewer resources.
As Election Day approaches, financial disparity remains a critical factor in the outcomes of these campaigns, influencing strategies and the potential for independent candidates to affect traditional party races significantly. Increased donations are seen as vital, particularly in competitive races such as those for attorney general and comptroller, where incumbents and their challengers vie for financial support.