Gov. JB Pritzker (D) is seeking a third term.
Candidates
- JB Pritzker Democrat Incumbent Running mate: Christian Mitchell
- Darren Bailey Republican Nominee Running mate: Aaron Del Mar
- Collin Corbett Independent Former Republican strategist Running mate: Carolyn Schofield
- Elizabeth Ann Sebesta Write-in Registered write-in
- Griselda Romero Independent Running mate: Eyde Arndell Registered write-in
- Mike Vick Independent Running mate: Gary Pierce Registered write-in
- Misty Metroz Independent Registered write-in
- Patricia L. Tillman Democrat Running mate: Joseph L. Mosley Registered write-in
- Rafael Varela Independent Registered write-in
- Richard Benedict Mayers Independent Registered write-in
Where the race stands
- Solid D
- Very Likely D
- Lean D
- Tilt D
- Toss-up
- Tilt R
- Lean R
- Likely R
- Very Likely R
- Solid R
- No race
Analysis
Gov. JB Pritzker (D) is heavily favored for a third term in a rematch with Darren Bailey (R), whom he beat by nearly 13 points in 2022. Governor and lieutenant governor run as a ticket: Pritzker's new running mate is Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, and Bailey's is Cook County GOP Chairman Aaron Del Mar. Pritzker points to ending the state grocery tax and doubling the child tax credit, and is running against President Trump's agenda. Bailey is running on repealing the SAFE-T Act, which ended cash bail, and on a 1 percent cap on property tax bills. He says he won't try to undo the state's abortion laws.
Pritzker has the money: he spent nearly $23.8 million from July through September to about $941,000 by Bailey's committee and entered October with about $44.4 million to Bailey's $482,000. In their only debate, on October 13 on WTTW, the two clashed over Trump, a new Bears stadium, and data centers, where Pritzker said there should be "no more data centers" unless they bring their own clean energy. Collin Corbett (I), a former Republican strategist, was left out of the debate based on poll numbers.
The rating is MultiState's consensus, the average of the Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Pluribus News. Polling is the RealClearPolling average where one exists.
Illinois governors since 1991
Democrats have held the office since 2019. The last Republican was Bruce Rauner (2015–2019).
Each block is one governor; thin lines mark a reelection. Margins are the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points.
- Elected 2018 (+15.7), reelected 2022 (+12.5)
- Elected 2014 (+3.9), lost reelection 2018
- Succeeded to office 2009, elected 2010 (+0.9), lost reelection 2014
- Elected 2002 (+7.1), reelected 2006 (+10.5), removed from office 2009
- Elected 1998 (+3.6)
- Elected 1990 (+2.6), reelected 1994 (+29.5)