Primary
Democratic Primary
Held March 17, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| JB Pritzker ✓ | 1,197,587 | 100.0% |
Republican Primary
Held March 17, 2026.
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Bailey ✓ | 304,162 | 53.3% | |
| Ted Dabrowski | 165,229 | 28.9% | |
| James Mendrick | 54,599 | 9.6% | |
| Rick Heidner | 46,374 | 8.1% |
Full calendar and every race: Illinois primary guide
Race Overview
General Election Polling Trend
Showing the published average. The rating above uses this figure.
The right edge is that same average of the last three polls. This is an average, not a forecast.
Share
Race page
Candidates
JB Pritzker Nominee Incumbent
Democrat
Darren Bailey Nominee
RepublicanGeneral Election Polling Average
Average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls. Fewer than three uses the polls that exist. The rating uses that average when the newest poll ended in the last 30 days. The table lists the polls in that average, plus the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more. How accurate is each pollster? →
| Pollster | Date | Sample | MoE | Dem | Rep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling (D) partisan·D 2024 err 2.0 | 2026-10-01 | 569 LV | JB Pritzker 54.00% | Darren Bailey 34.00% | |
| Victory Research | 2025-11-24 | 1208 LV | ±2.80 | JB Pritzker 54.00% | Darren Bailey 34.00% |
Questions About This Race
Who is winning the 2026 Illinois governor's race?
JB Pritzker leads Darren Bailey 54% to 34% in the PollingSource polling average — a D+20.0 margin based on 2 polls, the last three or fewer.
Is the 2026 Illinois governor's race competitive?
No — the PollingSource polling average rates it Safe D for Democrats.
What does the latest poll of the 2026 Illinois governor's race say?
The most recent public poll, from Public Policy Polling (D) (completed October 1, 2026), found JB Pritzker (D) at 54% and Darren Bailey (R) at 34%.
When is the 2026 Illinois governor's race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of the last three scientific public polls, or fewer when fewer exist. One poll sets the rating when it ended in the last 30 days. We do not exclude pollsters. The table lists recent polls, including ones older than those three. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Race News
Get the daily email and the spending series
We store the address and the time you agree. No email is sent yet.