Darren Bailey

While results are not official until certified by the Illinois State Board of Elections on Dec. 5, the Associated Press called the race for Gov. JB Pritzker instantly upon closure of the polls at 7 p.m.

Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey stopped in Bloomington on Saturday, campaigning alongside many other GOP candidates just days ahead of the election.

It was the second and final debate between the two gubernatorial hopefuls Tuesday night, and both came prepared for combat, ready to dish it out — and not take any of the other’s jabs lying down.

Some 37% of downstate voters polled viewed Pritzker favorably — that’s higher than Bailey’s downstate favorability numbers.

In the fast-paced televised debate ahead of the November election, the governor and state senator traded barbs while ducking questions.

The GOP nominee for governor gained fame as the voice of opposition on cultural issues — gun rights, abortion — at the statehouse. But he passed few bills of his own.

Illinois State University in Normal will host the first debate between Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey.

Illinois candidates for governor talked agriculture policy at an ag sector roundtable Wednesday consisting of more than 100 industry leaders. The session was held in McLean County at Shuler Farms in rural Lexington.

Illinois Republicans gathered for their annual day at the State Fair on Thursday to showcase their candidates in the Nov. 8 election, vowing that the party will “restore Illinois.”

GOP heavyweights haven’t backed Bailey’s campaign directly since he won the nomination, and even his supporters worry about how he’ll secure statewide support.