This is… not huge
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Darren Bailey’s 2022 interview with NBC 5 Chicago…
There’s a new television campaign ad that features a woman who had an abortion and is concerned about what a Governor Bailey might do.
“I would let her know first and foremost, women are well protected in the state of Illinois, and this is not going to change,” [Bailey] said. “Nothing’s going to change anytime soon. Those aren’t issues that divide us. JB Pritzker is fear mongering over just that.”
Previously, Bailey had called for a total ban on abortion, but in recent months he has sought to soften his stance.
* WTTW in 2022…
“Gov. Pritzker’s fear-mongering message that I’m going to destroy the state and take women’s rights away, well, he of all people should know that as a governor, I can’t do that,” Bailey said. “The General Assembly…would have to bring bills to the table. And I think everyone would agree, No. 1, nothing’s going to change. Women are well-protected in Illinois.”
* CBS 2 in 2022…
Bailey seemed to suggest he would not have the power to change abortion laws in Illinois if he became governor.
“Illinois has the most permissive abortion law in the nation,” he said. “Nothing is going to change when I’m governor. I couldn’t change them if I could.”
* Politico today…
THIS IS HUGE: Republican Darren Bailey says he’s not going to ban abortion if he’s elected governor. In a social media post yesterday, he said, “Let’s settle this right now: I am not banning abortion. And I am not restricting it. I’ve got two jobs as your next governor: put more money in your pocket and make sure you can walk down your street safely. JB has failed at both.” […]
What it means: Bailey has already said he’s not a MAGA Republican, now this. It looks like a sign that winds are changing in the Republican Party.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
Between this and the deeply weird framing Politico offered about a trip to Manny’s Deli the other day, they’re really reinforcing my belief that Beltway Journalists should stay inside that first word because they definitely are not the second one.
- twowaystreet - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 12:59 pm:
I see the excitement manufacturing facility is up and running on all cylinders today.
I miss Natasha any time I open IL Politico.
- twowaystreet - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
*firing on all cylinders today.
- Leap Day William - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:00 pm:
== Bailey has already said he’s not a MAGA Republican, now this. It looks like a sign that winds are changing in the Republican Party. ==
What I think it means (if he actually runs on this) is that when Bailey gets his electoral clock cleaned even worse this time, the ILGOP will decide they got fewer votes because they weren’t anti-choice enough and then continue to dig further into obscurity.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:01 pm:
With this latest move, Bailey is neck and neck with Pritzker in the horse race. Stay tuned for a photo finish. /s
- Think Again - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:08 pm:
=What it means=
It means that Politico and most posters here, despite years of clear statements, can’t free themselves of a preconceived notion about the GOP candidate for Governor.
- Norseman - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:13 pm:
Politico, I don’t need a bridge from Brooklyn or any other place.
- Terry Salad - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:14 pm:
So, Bailey is a flip-flopper on this issue then, right? What other issues has he changed his mind on? What does he think about politicians who flip flop on such issues? How can we trust him now?
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
I can walk down my street safely, and I have more money in my pocket than when Rauner was Gov.
- TheSouthern - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
Making Darren Bailey say this is actually a smart move for Pritzker. There likely will be a third party candidate who must pull votes away from both candidates to win (even though we know that won’t happen). The third party candidate now has a mailer to send to the Hard Rs downstate highlighting that Darren Bailey is not trustworthy and won’t ban abortion (his words). Ironically, some Pritzker backed SuperPAC may fund those mailers. Absolute decimation by Pritzker will only enhance his Presidential bid and hopefully send Bailey back to his government-funded farm forever.
- Duck Duck Goose - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
=”I couldn’t change them if I could.”=
That is a deep and abiding lack of agency.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:33 pm:
==So, Bailey is a flip-flopper ===
Try reading the post. He did this four years ago, too.
You missed the entire point.
- Steve - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:33 pm:
Darren Bailey: the abortion banner yet Illinois doesn’t have a constitutional right in their state constitution. Go figure.
- Billy Bob - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:34 pm:
Shia is bad at this, part 37,462.
- Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:34 pm:
== It looks like a sign that winds are changing in the Republican Party.==
And Bruce Rauner ran on not being anti-union.
- Alton Sinkhole - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:43 pm:
Shia does a fine job she’s just not as good as Rich at this (nobody is) and y’all judge her by the Miller standard. IMO.
- Big Dipper - Wednesday, May 6, 26 @ 1:59 pm:
Funny he never says this during the primaries.