Illinois is in trouble. That is one statement that I believe all Illinoisians can agree on, but what is the solution? Illinois faces a variety of economic, fiscal, demographic, and public policy challenges. People disagree about the causes and the best solutions, but the following issues are commonly cited by government reports, researchers, business organizations, and community groups.

Population Changes

Illinois has experienced periods of population decline and slower population growth than many neighboring states. Some residents have relocated because of employment opportunities, housing costs, taxes, climate, or retirement preferences. Population shifts can affect the labor force, housing demand, and local tax bases.

Cost of Living and Taxes

Many residents express concerns about the cost of living, particularly:

• Property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation.
• Housing affordability in some areas.
• Rising utility, insurance, and everyday household expenses.

These costs can place financial pressure on families, retirees, and small businesses.

State Finances

Illinois has made progress in recent years by improving its credit rating and maintaining balanced budgets, but it continues to carry long-term financial obligations, including pension liabilities. How best to address those obligations remains a major topic of public debate.

Public Safety

Crime rates vary significantly across Illinois. While many communities experience relatively low crime, some areas—particularly parts of Chicago and a few other urban centers—continue to face challenges related to violent crime, car thefts, and illegal firearms. Public safety and criminal justice policies remain significant issues in state politics.

Darren Bailey (Republican)

Darren Bailey is a farmer, small business owner, and former Illinois state legislator from Xenia, Illinois. Before entering politics, he operated a family farm and trucking business in southern Illinois. Bailey served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021 before being elected to the Illinois Senate, where he represented the 55th District. He first ran for governor in 2022 and is again seeking the Republican nomination for governor. His campaign emphasizes lower taxes, support for agriculture and small businesses, public safety, parental involvement in education, and Second Amendment rights.

JB Pritzker (Democrat)

JB Pritzker is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist who has served as the 43rd Governor of Illinois since 2019. A member of the Pritzker family, he co-founded the venture capital firm Pritzker Group and has been involved in numerous philanthropic and early childhood education initiatives. As governor, Pritzker has highlighted balanced state budgets, infrastructure investments, economic development, education funding, healthcare access, and clean energy initiatives. He is seeking another term as governor.

At a glance, both of these candidates sound like they have Illinois best interests at heart, but let’s dig a little deeper and explore each candidate in more depth.

As mentioned earlier, Illinois (as a result of Pritzger’s policies) has managed to improve its credit rating and maintain a balanced budget. On the surface, this sounds like a good thing. In reality it means that Pritzger has repeatedly increased or imposed new taxes. The Illinois budget has increased from $41.4 billion in 2021 to a record-high $55.9 billion in 2026. The 2026 budget alone includes $800 million in tax increases. IllinoisPolicy.org

 Illinoisians already pay an average of $10,463 (or about 15% of their income) in state, local, property, and sales taxes, which is one of the highest effective burdens in the nation. IllinoisPolicy.org

To make a long story short, Pritzger’s policies and budgets are out of control. Each year the budget increases and to make it balance, Pritzger just increases taxes again and there is little to no consideration as to how these increases will affect Illinois families.

The average State of Illinois government employee makes $89,564 per year IllinoisPolicy.org, which according to the US Census Bureau is higher than the median household income of Illinois residents at just $83,390 and a per capita income of $46,406. US Census Bureau Public servants (which is what a government employee is) should not out earn the average Illinois citizen.

Darren Bailey, on the other hand, seeks to decrease Illinois spending and lower taxes. Darren Bailey plans to balance the Illinois state budget by identifying and cutting government waste rather than implementing broad tax hikes or mass layoffs of state workers. Capitol News Illinois

His "Blueprint for Illinois" includes the following key components:

• Illinois DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency): Modeled after the Trump-era federal initiative, this commission aims to audit state spending, increase transparency, consolidate duplicative agencies, and eliminate overlapping boards and commissions using an "X-Acto knife" approach. Capitol News Illinois
• Repeal of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA): Bailey intends to eliminate this 2021 energy law, which he argues has driven up utility costs and drained supply, with the goal of lowering living expenses and improving the state's economic competitiveness. WTTW
• Utility and Contract Audits: Requires strict, independent audits of major utility contracts to stop unwarranted rate hikes and bring financial accountability to state operations. STLPR
• Property Tax Capping: Aims to cap annual property tax rates to ensure no family pays more in property taxes than their mortgage, while the state simultaneously takes on a larger share of funding for local public schools. STLPR

In conclusion, yes, Darren Bailey is the solution that Illinois needs. Illinois needs to trim the fat, lower taxes, and spend the money where it matters most. Darren Bailey is the man to make that happen.