SPRINGFIELD, IL — President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Darren Bailey in the Illinois governor's race, backing the former state senator as he prepares for a November rematch against Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.
Speaking to reporters Sunday before departing Ireland, Trump praised Bailey and referenced the family tragedy Bailey suffered last year.
"Well, I like the candidate from Illinois. He's a good man," Trump said.
"He had a tragedy, a horrible tragedy," Trump continued. "His family was partially wiped out in a terrible helicopter accident."
Election Day is Nov. 3.
Bailey's son, Zachary, daughter-in-law Kelsey and grandchildren Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, were killed Oct. 22, 2025, when a helicopter piloted by Zachary Bailey crashed in Montana.
Bailey paused his gubernatorial campaign after the crash before announcing in November that he would remain in the race.
"Many have asked if we plan to stay in the race for Governor," Bailey said at the time. "After a lot of prayer and honest conversations, we've decided to continue."
RELATED: Darren Bailey Staying In IL Governor's Race Following Family Tragedy
Trump then turned his criticism toward Pritzker.
"I think J.B. Pritzker is a disaster," Trump said. "You look at what's happening with Chicago."
"If J.B. Pritzker can lose, it's definitely a win," Trump added.
Trump later returned to Bailey, calling him "a very good candidate."
Bailey has not always aligned himself with Trump during the 2026 campaign.
In April, after Trump criticized Chicago-area native Pope Leo XIV and posted an AI-generated image of himself in religious imagery, Bailey publicly objected.
"President Trump mocking a Chicago-born Pope and posting himself as Jesus Christ is wrong," Bailey wrote at the time. "I don't care whose name is attached to it—I'll always call it like I see it."
RELATED: Trump Blasts 'Weak' Pope Leo As Chicago-Area Native Says He Doesn't Fear President
Bailey has also said there are issues on which he agrees and disagrees with Trump, telling Republicans earlier this year, "I am my own man."
Bailey and Pritzker are meeting again after Pritzker defeated Bailey in the 2022 governor's race.
Recent public polling has continued to show Pritzker with a sizable lead. A G-Ratings survey conducted Aug. 28-Sept. 1 found Pritzker at 51.3 percent and Bailey at 30.8 percent, with 13.8 percent of respondents undecided or supporting another option. The poll surveyed 850 registered Illinois voters who said they intended to participate in the election.
Bailey has focused much of his 2026 campaign on taxes, crime and affordability.
Last month, Bailey said he would seek to suspend Illinois' gas tax for six months if elected governor, pitching the move as a way to provide immediate relief to motorists.
RELATED: Bailey Says He'd Suspend Illinois Gas Tax For 6 Months As Governor
Immigration enforcement has become another major dividing line in the race.
In April, Pritzker warned that federal immigration agents could be present near polling places in November and told voters that if agents attempted to interfere with access, "We need to go with purpose and push them out of the way."
Bailey responded by blaming Pritzker for the circumstances that brought federal immigration agents to Illinois, while also saying he disagreed with how the Trump administration rolled out some of its enforcement efforts.
RELATED: Pritzker Tells Voters To Push ICE Agents 'Out Of The Way' At Polls: IL Gubernatorial Election 2026
The endorsement comes amid continued clashes between Trump and Pritzker over immigration enforcement, voting rules and other federal policies affecting Illinois.
Earlier this month, Pritzker marked the one-year anniversary of Operation Midway Blitz by again criticizing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago and the suburbs.
The Department of Homeland Security has defended the operation as lawful immigration enforcement and disputed broader accusations of misconduct made by Illinois officials.
RELATED: 1 Year After Operation Midway Blitz, Pritzker, IL Democrats Renew Calls For Accountability
The two sides have also fought over mail-voting rules, with Pritzker criticizing Trump-backed efforts to change how mailed ballots are handled ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
RELATED: Pritzker Blasts Supreme Court Ruling On Trump's Mail-In Voting Order
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