SPRINGFIELD, Ill. � Sen. Darren Bailey, an outspoken Republican from Eastern Illinois, will announce his intent to run for governor in 2022. The Xenia native is hosting a campaign event with supporters Monday night at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham.
While only serving a limited time in the House before unanimously winning his Senate seat, Bailey gained statewide and national attention for defying Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive orders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Bailey filed a lawsuit against the Pritzker administration in Clay County last spring.
He later became a popular speaker at “Reopen Illinois� hosted by people across the state who opposed Pritzker’s response to the pandemic. Bailey gained significant support as the court battle moved from Clay County to the Illinois Supreme Court and federal level. As lawmakers returned to Springfield for a special session in May, House leaders kicked Bailey out of the Bank of Springfield Center for . Many Republicans against mask wearing found a new political leader they wanted to follow. Some even started to chant “Governor Bailey� at public events and rallies.
Bailey will join two Republicans with gubernatorial campaigns already underway. Former Sen. Paul Schimpf announced his intent for the Republican ticket last week. Businessman Gary Rabine was the first person to announce a campaign against Pritzker, although the list of Republican candidates is expected to grow over the coming months.
You can watch a livestream of the 7PM announcement  and on the .Ìý
