Illinois GOP voters choose nominee to challenge Gov. Pritzker

Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heider and James Mendrick competed for the Republican gubernatorial nomination

Mar. 18, 2026 at 12:03am

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Republican primary voters in Illinois on Tuesday cast ballots in a four-way race to decide the party's nominee to challenge Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker in the November general election. Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heider and James Mendrick competed for the GOP nomination in what was a low-dollar, low-visibility contest.

Why it matters

The Republican nominee will face an uphill battle against the well-funded and popular incumbent Gov. Pritzker, who is seeking a third term. The outcome of the primary could shape the direction of the Illinois Republican Party and its chances of regaining the governorship for the first time since 2014.

The details

Bailey, a downstate farmer and former state lawmaker, sought a rematch with Pritzker after his near 13 percentage point general election loss four years ago. Dabrowski, a former bank executive, was backed by some of the same people who supported Bailey's 2022 run but deemed him unelectable this time. Heidner, a real estate developer and video gambling firm operator, made a late entry into the race and sought to convince voters they needed a businessman to run the state. Mendrick, the two-term DuPage County sheriff, was the first candidate to enter the GOP contest but gained little traction.

  • Republican primary voters cast ballots on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

The players

Darren Bailey

A downstate farmer and former state lawmaker who sought a rematch with Gov. Pritzker after his near 13 percentage point general election loss four years ago.

Ted Dabrowski

A former bank executive who was backed by some of the same people who supported Bailey's 2022 run but deemed him unelectable this time.

Rick Heider

A real estate developer and video gambling firm operator who made a late entry into the race and sought to convince voters they needed a businessman to run the state.

James Mendrick

The two-term DuPage County sheriff who was the first candidate to enter the GOP contest but gained little traction.

JB Pritzker

The incumbent Democratic governor who was unopposed in the primary and is seeking a third term.

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What they’re saying

“I have no doubt that you will continue to Fight! Fight! Fight! for your beloved state in honor of your beautiful family.”

— Donald Trump

“He is solely living off residual awareness from four years ago. His supporters come from two camps: (1) those who lack intellectual curiosity to investigate the race, and (2) those who are baffled by the plot twists in Jim Varney movies.”

— Dan Proft, Paid Dabrowski consultant

“Paying a single consultant $25,000 a month to call Illinois Republicans unintelligent and compare them to the Beverly Hillbillies is a window into how they really see this state.”

— Darren Bailey

“I have zero ties to organized crime.”

— Rick Heider

“You could travel seven hours and not leave Illinois.”

— James Mendrick

What’s next

The winner of the Republican primary will face off against Gov. Pritzker in the November general election.

The takeaway

The outcome of the Republican primary will be crucial in determining the GOP's chances of regaining the Illinois governorship for the first time since 2014. The four candidates presented a range of ideological and stylistic approaches, reflecting the divisions within the state's Republican Party.