Darren Bailey

Taxes and the economy

Bailey has advocated reducing state and property taxes, limiting government spending, and auditing state expenditures. During his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, he proposed limiting annual property tax increases to 1% and reviewing grants to nongovernmental organizations to assess how public funds were being used. He has argued that state spending, rather than insufficient taxation, is the principal problem facing Illinois' finances.

Education

Bailey has emphasized parental choice, local control of education, and reducing administrative costs in public schools. During his 2026 campaign, he proposed reducing the number of Illinois school districts by approximately half, arguing that consolidating districts could reduce administrative expenses and long-term pension costs. He has also advocated greater parental involvement in education and increased accountability for school spending.

Immigration

Bailey has criticized Illinois policies that limit cooperation between state and local authorities and federal immigration enforcement. During his 2026 gubernatorial campaign, he advocated ending Illinois' sanctuary-state status and repealing the TRUST Act, which limits certain forms of state and local assistance to federal immigration authorities. His position reflects his broader emphasis on public safety and cooperation with law enforcement.

SAFE-T Act

Bailey has made public safety a central issue in his political campaigns and has called for the repeal of the SAFE-T Act, or Illinois criminal justice reform law enacted in 2021 that eliminated cash bail and established a risk-based system for pretrial release. He argues that the law should be changed to better protect communities, hold repeat violent offenders accountable, and ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety can be detained while awaiting trial.

In April 2026, Bailey announced a proposal to tighten pretrial detention standards and strengthen enforcement of electronic monitoring. His plan included a presumption of detention for repeat violent offenders and requiring individuals who violate electronic monitoring conditions to appear before a judge within 48 hours. Bailey argued that the existing system did not adequately prevent repeat offenders from committing further crimes while on release.

Bailey has also called for law enforcement officials and state's attorneys to participate in discussions about changes to the law. During an October 2026 gubernatorial debate, he reiterated his position that the SAFE-T Act should be repealed and replaced through a process that gives law enforcement and prosecutors a greater role in shaping pretrial policies.