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Illinois GOP Governor Candidate Darren Bailey Moves into Chicago Apartment
Bailey hopes to improve outreach to voters in state's most populous region after struggling in Chicago in previous run.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:53pm
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As the Republican nominee for Illinois governor, Darren Bailey's move to a Chicago apartment signals a strategic shift to improve his outreach and connections with urban and suburban voters.Springfield TodayRepublican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey has moved into an apartment in Chicago as he seeks to improve his outreach to voters in the state's most populous region. Bailey, a former state lawmaker and farmer from downstate Illinois, previously lived in a Chicago high-rise during his 2022 campaign but lost the race by 12 percentage points. This year, Bailey says the move is part of his promise to focus more on getting to know voters in the city and suburbs, though he insists he hasn't forgotten about his downstate base.
Why it matters
Bailey's move to Chicago represents an effort to connect with urban and suburban voters after struggling to gain traction in the city during his previous campaign. As the Republican nominee, Bailey will need to find a way to appeal to a diverse range of Illinois voters, including those in the state's largest and most Democratic-leaning region, if he hopes to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.
The details
Bailey, who won the Republican nomination for governor for a second time last month, says he's moved into an apartment on Chicago's near South Side that will serve as a sort of 'headquarters' for his Chicago-area campaign operation. The apartment rent in the South Loop neighborhood starts around $2,000 per month, according to real estate data. Bailey says he hopes a donor will help cover the cost, as state law generally prohibits using campaign funds for homes but allows some gray area for candidates to 'defray' costs. Bailey's previous attempt to connect with Chicago voters in 2022 by living in the former John Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue did not pay off, as he only received about 15% of the vote in the city and lost the race by 12 percentage points to Pritzker.
- Bailey won the Republican nomination for governor for a second time last month.
- Four years ago, Bailey lived in the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue during his previous campaign.
The players
Darren Bailey
The Republican nominee for Illinois governor, a former state lawmaker and farmer from downstate Illinois.
JB Pritzker
The incumbent Democratic governor of Illinois, who defeated Bailey in the 2022 election.
What they’re saying
“Darren Bailey has spent his entire career demonizing Chicago and the people who live here. He can change his address, but that doesn't change the facts. Darren Bailey is the same extreme, unsuccessful, and totally unqualified candidate he's always been. When Illinois voters reject Donald Trump's lapdog for the third time this fall, hopefully he gets the message.”
— Alex Gough, Spokesperson for Gov. JB Pritzker
“I've always said that when I see something wrong, I'll call it out, and I believe I always have, so I felt the necessity to say this is not right what happened here, and I believe an apology would go a long way in rectifying this.”
— Darren Bailey, Republican nominee for Illinois governor
What’s next
Bailey's move to Chicago and his efforts to connect with urban and suburban voters will be closely watched as the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election approaches. It remains to be seen whether his strategy of appealing to a broader range of voters across the state will be successful.
The takeaway
Darren Bailey's decision to move into a Chicago apartment as part of his campaign for Illinois governor highlights the challenges Republican candidates face in trying to appeal to voters in the state's most populous and Democratic-leaning region. Bailey's past struggles in the city suggest he has work to do to overcome his image as a downstate conservative, but his willingness to change his approach could signal a shift in strategy.
