South Cook News

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) is getting a boost in his campaign for the GOP gubernatorial primary set for June 28. 

Illinois Family Action (IFA) noted its support for Bailey in a recent announcement. 

“As the pastor of New Hope Community Church in Palatine and an Illinois Family Action Board member, I am privileged to announce the IFA is endorsing Darren Bailey for governor,” Illinois Family Action, which is based in Tinley Park, said in a press release. 

Pastor James Pittman enumerated the reasons for the IFA's support of Bailey.

“Here’s why,” the statement continued. “Darren Bailey backs police and community efforts to make Illinois a safer place to live. And he supports the right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves as well as others; Darren Bailey is a pro-life voice and as governor, he will make the protection of women and their babies a priority; Darren Bailey stands with the good parents of Illinois who know better than the state what’s best for their children; Darren Bailey supports educational choice and greater transparency in our taxpayer-funded government schools; Darren Bailey supports fairness in women’s and girls' sports and privacy in restrooms and locker rooms; Darren Bailey is an advocate for taxpayers and will continue to fight against corruption and waste in state government.” 

Early polling indicates that the state's Democrats are losing support as a result of the party's leadership issue. According to a Tulchin Research poll, Bailey and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin — who has a long history as a Democrat despite running for the GOP nod — are leading incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in an undisclosed Chicago suburb. Crime was at the top of the respondents' list of concerns.

According to NBC5 Chicago, the police department reported that "2021 ended with 797 homicides. That is 25 more than [what was] recorded in 2020, 299 more than in 2019 and the most since 1996." 

A substantial surge in violent crimes has been attributed to soft-on-crime policies, particularly in Chicago and Cook County in 2021, Chicago City Wire reported. Furthermore, the locations have been desecrated by stealing. Due to selective prosecution, those arrested have also been convicted at a substantially lower rate. 

Jeanne Ives, the CEO of Breakthrough Ideas, recently endorsed Bailey for governor. 

"The only reason children are unmasked in school today is because Darren challenged the governor’s illegal mask mandate," she said.