JB for Governor Releases New Video Called “He’s Back” – Watch Here
Yesterday, the Illinois Republican Party selected Darren Bailey as its candidate for governor, reviving a ticket that Illinois voters already rejected in 2022. Bailey has been explicit that he intends to change his tone to attract new voters, but a closer look at his record makes clear that his positions haven’t moved an inch.
Illinois voters didn’t buy it four years ago, and they won’t buy it now. Darren Bailey can try to change his message but his ideas haven’t changed – he’s too extreme for Illinois.
I am giving Darren Bailey’s ad a D-. It’s technically a good ad. It just fails to understand the kind of campaign that Darren Bailey needs to run between now and November to actually become the Governor of Illinois. Darren Bailey’s ad is an A if his goal is to spend 2027 hosting a pod cast where he sells gender affirming healthcare treatments and “supplements” to white men over the age of 60. At this point I would be unsurprised to learn that Darren Bailey had goat testicles implanted to improve his virility.
Pritzker’s ad is an A+ negative. Just in case anyone thought we had the luxury to forget about this buffoon.
Respectfully to all the professionals involved who make this their livelihood: I’m really looking forward to the relative dearth of political ads for the next few months before things ramp up again. I’m ecstatic that my phone won’t be blowing up with anonymous text messages attacking various candidates.
Nice of Bailey to highlight just how much weight Pritzker’s lost over the last couple of years, by showing all the clearly old video of him.
JB gets a B - it’s too long, tighten and trim it.
Darren gets a C- - credit for the attempt, but he’s preaching to his own choir.
The difference really is that JB’s ad focused on exactly what Darren has been saying for the last four years, and Darren’s ad focused on the same stuff voters didn’t care about four years ago.
The problem is JB’s ad actually makes an argument that Bailey wants to ban abortion with no exceptions and that Bailey supports Trump. I am pro-choice and I think Trump is both evil and incompetent.
Bailey’s ad only plays to people who believe JB is a corrupt criminal who raises taxes too much already.
As someone who doesn’t make a lot of money and pays my taxes, the federal government gouges way more from me than the State does. His claims just don’t line up with my experience as a taxpayer. I’ve actually benefitted financially from a lot of legislation JB pushed for or signed off on when it passesd congress.
So what Bailey’s left with is asking me to hate a rich guy with a trust fund for being a rich giy with a trust fund. I just don’t find that compelling.
The Bailey ad gets a B-. It’s ok. It’s reminds Illinois voters of higher taxes like the gas tax and property taxes. Bailey isn’t going to win : it’s just a question of whether he’ll do better this time.
I’m admittedly coming at this as a near certain Pritzker voter. That said, Pritzker’s ad contains mainly full sentences from Bailey’s own mouth. Bailey’s ad is primarily partial sentences by members of the media, cut off midstream. It comes off as misleading, since I assume the full sentences would be included if they were damning to Pritzker.
Hitting the most popular political figure in the state with outdated messaging and without any positive messages about himself?
OK, so he hasn’t learned anything.
- Jack in Chatham - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 10:51 am:
Candidate Bailey must articulate a plan to govern. I recently attended an event of his and having three platitudes for a political platform is no substitute for concrete plans. Sad, this advertisement is not going to carry him towards his goal.
Jack in Chatham - “plan to govern”. Exactly. He does not articulate a vision for finding a way to move the state forward while working with a General Assembly that will oppose him.
I think it’s interesting that JB didn’t need to air the “Bailey is too extreme for Illinois” until after the primary this time.
The clown car that is the IL GOP only had a choice of pro-Trump, Trump forever, and MAGA Trump candidates running. No threat for any sane GOP candidates this time around.
Can someone please remind them what the definition of insanity is again? Does anyone expect a different result this time?
Bailey doesn’t offer anything in this ad to appeal to people outside his circle of GOP hardliners.
If the best he has is ‘Pritzker bad’ (including some pretty dated material) and nothing positive to say on his own behalf, I think Pritzker wallops him by even more this time around.
Love the JB ad. I’d give it a solid A. I also think Bailey’s ad is good. You start by exciting your base again, which this will do than you move to addition. And Bravo to the Gov. the weight loss journey is impressive, sir.
JB could literally ignore Bailey between now and November and still win walking away. I don’t see the need for very much effort or expense, and definitely keep to the high road.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
JB: B; Bailey: D. Agree that Bailey needs to state concretely what he stands for, as platitudes aren’t gonna make it. Maybe he’s afraid to actually say it?
Ad consultants: “Listen Darren. We’ll make your ads and take your commissions, but you had no chance last time and have even less chance this time because the climate has turned against you and your idol is at least -20 in the state. Don’t know what you are selling but no one’s buying.”
“Four years ago Darren lost by over half a million votes. Will it be more or less this time around?”
By more. The party out of power in the White House typically does better in midterm elections.
- Frida's Boss - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
Race is already over.
Good ad by JB already buries him immediately in Illinois.
Darens ad is not terrible production-wise, but no different than what helped him lose 12 minutes after the polls closed last time.
The thing that sucks for all of us is J.B. doesn’t just want to beat Bailey. In order to look good for the Democratic Primaries for POTUS, he’ll want to crush Bailey. We got nine more months of this stuff.
Pritzker Ad: B-. It will appeal to his base. Very few if any gains.
Bailey: C. Very average GOP commercial of tired soundbites. You know what would be great? If Darren Bailey could name a single thing he has ever accomplished for the state of Illinois.
Isn’t Bailey’s strategy to be the softer Bailey that can win over Chicagoans and the collar counties? Doesn’t someone with that strategy need to reintroduce this new version of himself to the voting public?
Pritzker’s ad is a B/B+. I guess “Still too extreme” plays better than “This guy again?”
Bailey gets a C-/D+. Pritzker’s abbreviated replies are more “Huh?” than “Gotcha (exclamation point)” I was also distracted by the VHS quality of the talking head replies.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 3:49 pm:
Pritzker’s ad is a B+.
Bit long but good example of using someones own words and views against them.
Bailey’s ad is a D.
Plays well to people who don’t like Pritzker but anyone else it may not.
But it too is a bit long.
But the negative tone,abrasive background music,and leaning hard into soundbites isn’t a good look.
Bailey’s campaign offers nothing new to convince the electorate that he is the best candidate for the governor’s office.
Bailey’s campaign is a fool’s errand.
- Rounding Numbers and Bases - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 4:00 pm:
Pritzker, B. Would have been an A but too soon man, too soon.
Bailey, it’s a C+ and only that high because we all know that he is only running to keep his name out there for another run if Bost retires. This ad keeps the choir singing his praises. Otherwise F and also too soon.
- here we go again - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 4:03 pm:
Bailey ad: D, to be gracious. Too sloppy and disjointed. Far from tight. And Bailey twang at the end certainly doesn’t help.
Pritzker ad: B. Decent but honestly what else do you need other than to remind voters Bailey is so anti-abortion that he even says no exceptions for rape or incest. He tells conservative groups he’s studied the Bible and finds no exceptions. So yeah, women, even pro-life woman, want to be told my some aging pudgy farmer that they are a bad person if they don’t carry a rapist’s baby to term? I don’t think so. I think this is why my guess is Trump doesn’t endorse Bailey this time. First of all Trump doesn’t like losers. But I also don’t think he wants to tie himself to that extreme abortion position. My guess. But I hear things.
- Peter - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:02 am:
“Meet JB Pritzker” makes no sense as a tagline when you’re running against a two-term Governor.
My guy, we met him and married him.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:10 am:
I am giving Darren Bailey’s ad a D-. It’s technically a good ad. It just fails to understand the kind of campaign that Darren Bailey needs to run between now and November to actually become the Governor of Illinois. Darren Bailey’s ad is an A if his goal is to spend 2027 hosting a pod cast where he sells gender affirming healthcare treatments and “supplements” to white men over the age of 60. At this point I would be unsurprised to learn that Darren Bailey had goat testicles implanted to improve his virility.
Pritzker’s ad is an A+ negative. Just in case anyone thought we had the luxury to forget about this buffoon.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:17 am:
Respectfully to all the professionals involved who make this their livelihood: I’m really looking forward to the relative dearth of political ads for the next few months before things ramp up again. I’m ecstatic that my phone won’t be blowing up with anonymous text messages attacking various candidates.
Yes I live in IL-09.
- Concerned Observer - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:19 am:
Nice of Bailey to highlight just how much weight Pritzker’s lost over the last couple of years, by showing all the clearly old video of him.
JB gets a B - it’s too long, tighten and trim it.
Darren gets a C- - credit for the attempt, but he’s preaching to his own choir.
The difference really is that JB’s ad focused on exactly what Darren has been saying for the last four years, and Darren’s ad focused on the same stuff voters didn’t care about four years ago.
- Pamela - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:29 am:
The problem is JB’s ad actually makes an argument that Bailey wants to ban abortion with no exceptions and that Bailey supports Trump. I am pro-choice and I think Trump is both evil and incompetent.
Bailey’s ad only plays to people who believe JB is a corrupt criminal who raises taxes too much already.
As someone who doesn’t make a lot of money and pays my taxes, the federal government gouges way more from me than the State does. His claims just don’t line up with my experience as a taxpayer. I’ve actually benefitted financially from a lot of legislation JB pushed for or signed off on when it passesd congress.
So what Bailey’s left with is asking me to hate a rich guy with a trust fund for being a rich giy with a trust fund. I just don’t find that compelling.
- Jerry - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:29 am:
Baylee: F-, go back a grade.
Governor Pritzker: A+…..well done. Great work.
- Notorious JMB - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:29 am:
Four years ago Darren lost by over half a million votes. Will it be more or less this time around?
- Steve - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:30 am:
The Bailey ad gets a B-. It’s ok. It’s reminds Illinois voters of higher taxes like the gas tax and property taxes. Bailey isn’t going to win : it’s just a question of whether he’ll do better this time.
- OBResident - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:35 am:
Both are B+/A- ads.
Each hit on the biggest vulnerabilities for their opponents. The property tax issue is growing every year.
- Skokie Man - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:43 am:
Pritzker: B
Bailey: D
I’m admittedly coming at this as a near certain Pritzker voter. That said, Pritzker’s ad contains mainly full sentences from Bailey’s own mouth. Bailey’s ad is primarily partial sentences by members of the media, cut off midstream. It comes off as misleading, since I assume the full sentences would be included if they were damning to Pritzker.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 9:59 am:
Pritzker ad:B
Bailey ad: D-
Bailey’s ad is nails on a chalkboard annoying. No message or plan except Pritzker is bad…vote for Bailey.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 10:28 am:
Hitting the most popular political figure in the state with outdated messaging and without any positive messages about himself?
OK, so he hasn’t learned anything.
- Jack in Chatham - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 10:51 am:
Candidate Bailey must articulate a plan to govern. I recently attended an event of his and having three platitudes for a political platform is no substitute for concrete plans. Sad, this advertisement is not going to carry him towards his goal.
- Motambe - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 11:06 am:
Jack in Chatham - “plan to govern”. Exactly. He does not articulate a vision for finding a way to move the state forward while working with a General Assembly that will oppose him.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 11:25 am:
I think it’s interesting that JB didn’t need to air the “Bailey is too extreme for Illinois” until after the primary this time.
The clown car that is the IL GOP only had a choice of pro-Trump, Trump forever, and MAGA Trump candidates running. No threat for any sane GOP candidates this time around.
Can someone please remind them what the definition of insanity is again? Does anyone expect a different result this time?
Me neither.
- Father Ted - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 11:30 am:
Bailey doesn’t offer anything in this ad to appeal to people outside his circle of GOP hardliners.
If the best he has is ‘Pritzker bad’ (including some pretty dated material) and nothing positive to say on his own behalf, I think Pritzker wallops him by even more this time around.
- Buford - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 11:34 am:
Will Bailey lose in under or over 9 minutes when the polls close this time?
- Tom - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 11:56 am:
Love the JB ad. I’d give it a solid A. I also think Bailey’s ad is good. You start by exciting your base again, which this will do than you move to addition. And Bravo to the Gov. the weight loss journey is impressive, sir.
- Jibba - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
JB could literally ignore Bailey between now and November and still win walking away. I don’t see the need for very much effort or expense, and definitely keep to the high road.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:33 pm:
JB: B; Bailey: D. Agree that Bailey needs to state concretely what he stands for, as platitudes aren’t gonna make it. Maybe he’s afraid to actually say it?
Ad consultants: “Listen Darren. We’ll make your ads and take your commissions, but you had no chance last time and have even less chance this time because the climate has turned against you and your idol is at least -20 in the state. Don’t know what you are selling but no one’s buying.”
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:38 pm:
Rather than berate JB in ads, Bailey should follow JB’s example and get steps along the lakefront. Time to lace up the walking shoes, Darren.
- Some Guy - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:39 pm:
“Four years ago Darren lost by over half a million votes. Will it be more or less this time around?”
By more. The party out of power in the White House typically does better in midterm elections.
- Frida's Boss - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:49 pm:
Race is already over.
Good ad by JB already buries him immediately in Illinois.
Darens ad is not terrible production-wise, but no different than what helped him lose 12 minutes after the polls closed last time.
- Just Me 2 - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 12:58 pm:
The thing that sucks for all of us is J.B. doesn’t just want to beat Bailey. In order to look good for the Democratic Primaries for POTUS, he’ll want to crush Bailey. We got nine more months of this stuff.
- Politix - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 1:07 pm:
Pritzker Ad: B-. It will appeal to his base. Very few if any gains.
Bailey: C. Very average GOP commercial of tired soundbites. You know what would be great? If Darren Bailey could name a single thing he has ever accomplished for the state of Illinois.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
===If Darren Bailey could name a single thing he has ever accomplished for the state of Illinois===
He is personally sequestering many kilograms of carbon.
- Montrose - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
Isn’t Bailey’s strategy to be the softer Bailey that can win over Chicagoans and the collar counties? Doesn’t someone with that strategy need to reintroduce this new version of himself to the voting public?
- Jocko - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 3:24 pm:
Pritzker’s ad is a B/B+. I guess “Still too extreme” plays better than “This guy again?”
Bailey gets a C-/D+. Pritzker’s abbreviated replies are more “Huh?” than “Gotcha (exclamation point)” I was also distracted by the VHS quality of the talking head replies.
- btowntruth from forgottonia - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 3:49 pm:
Pritzker’s ad is a B+.
Bit long but good example of using someones own words and views against them.
Bailey’s ad is a D.
Plays well to people who don’t like Pritzker but anyone else it may not.
But it too is a bit long.
But the negative tone,abrasive background music,and leaning hard into soundbites isn’t a good look.
- Rudy’s teeth - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 3:57 pm:
Bailey’s campaign offers nothing new to convince the electorate that he is the best candidate for the governor’s office.
Bailey’s campaign is a fool’s errand.
- Rounding Numbers and Bases - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 4:00 pm:
Pritzker, B. Would have been an A but too soon man, too soon.
Bailey, it’s a C+ and only that high because we all know that he is only running to keep his name out there for another run if Bost retires. This ad keeps the choir singing his praises. Otherwise F and also too soon.
- here we go again - Wednesday, Mar 18, 26 @ 4:03 pm:
Bailey ad: D, to be gracious. Too sloppy and disjointed. Far from tight. And Bailey twang at the end certainly doesn’t help.
Pritzker ad: B. Decent but honestly what else do you need other than to remind voters Bailey is so anti-abortion that he even says no exceptions for rape or incest. He tells conservative groups he’s studied the Bible and finds no exceptions. So yeah, women, even pro-life woman, want to be told my some aging pudgy farmer that they are a bad person if they don’t carry a rapist’s baby to term? I don’t think so. I think this is why my guess is Trump doesn’t endorse Bailey this time. First of all Trump doesn’t like losers. But I also don’t think he wants to tie himself to that extreme abortion position. My guess. But I hear things.