Pritzker and Bailey Meet in Their Only Scheduled Illinois Governor Debate
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey, a former state lawmaker, met on the evening of October 13 at the WTTW studios in Chicago for their only scheduled debate of this election cycle, three weeks before the November 3 election, Capitol News Illinois reported.
The hourlong forum covered property taxes, schools, mental health services, data centers and the state's SAFE-T Act, as well as the Chicago Bears' stadium plans and last year's immigration enforcement operation. Pritzker said he believed a deal could be reached in November to keep the Bears in Illinois, while pledging not to put the cost on taxpayers; Bailey said the team's move to Indiana was already done. On state finances, Bailey pointed out that the state budget has almost doubled during Pritzker's two terms and proposed an Illinois version of the federal Department of Government Efficiency, while Pritzker said he has kept discretionary spending below the inflation rate and raised the state pension funded ratio from just below 40 percent when he took office to almost 50 percent.
The debate was a rematch of the 2022 race, when Pritzker defeated Bailey by 12 points. Pritzker is seeking a third term.
Source: Capitol News Illinois and Capitol City Now, October 14, 2026.
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Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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