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Pritzker campaign launches ‘Too Extreme’ TV ad targeting Bailey (Updated)

Thursday, Aug 20, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller

* Press release…

Today, JB For Governor released a new ad called “Too Extreme,” highlighting Darren Bailey’s extreme views that pose a threat to Illinois working families.

The 30-second ad features video clips of Bailey’s extreme comments, including his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape and incest, intense loyalty to Donald Trump, radical pro-gun rhetoric, anti-LGBTQ+ comments, and unyielding support for Trump’s tariffs.

Illinois families deserve a leader who will stand up for them, not a MAGA extremist whose loyalty only lies with Donald Trump.

The ad will air on statewide broadcast and cable television.

* The spot

The ad is essentially a shorter version of a video the Pritzker campaign released in March.

* Script

VO: Remember Darren Bailey?

Bailey: I am pro-life. No exceptions. Never have been.

President Trump is a smart man. He knows what he does.

I will never, ever give up my AR-15 or any other gun.

You know, we’ve seen these wicked, you know, the LGBT teaching.

President Trump, I do believe in his tariffs.

Reporter: If somebody were raped or there was a matter of incest in the family, would you allow that woman to have an abortion?

Bailey: Right now, my answer is no.

VO: Darren Bailey is way too extreme for Illinois.

Rating?

…Adding… Meanwhile…

Today, at the Illinois State Fair, Dinosaurs Against Darren will gather to protest Darren Bailey’s gubernatorial campaign. The school Darren Bailey founded uses a curriculum that teaches children that dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time. According to the Field Museum, Britannica, and the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 65 million years passed between the extinction of dinosaurs and the earliest humans.

The assembled dinosaurs will express their displeasure with Darren Bailey’s embrace and spread of misinformation.

WHAT: Dinosaurs Against Darren to gather at Illinois State Fair Republican Day

WHEN: Thursday, August 20 at 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

WHERE: Illinois State Fair Directors Lawn

       

40 Comments »
  1. - JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:19 am:

    Gentleman’s B-. The add is 100% factual, it is good that it is in his voice especially because he sounds like he is from Tennessee and not Illinois (versus the ellinois as Bailye pronounces it). But it is basically a reboot of an old add and not very creative, not much passion.

    I guess it is just a reminder to those in the suburbs of who Bailey is since he is pretty forgettable.


  2. - Proud Papa Bear - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:32 am:

    B
    I guess it keeps reminding people of what Bailey stands for but it’s like a million other Orwellian horror schlock ads out there.


  3. - Lurker - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:32 am:

    A
    Reading it and he seems like a Republican/follower (those words are becoming interchangeable to me).
    Watching it and he sounds very flippant on serious issues that require much more thought than he is capable of producing.


  4. - Lurker - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:35 am:

    I literally took a sip of coffee and it did not end well as I read this:
    I guess it is just a reminder to those in the suburbs of who Bailey is since he is pretty forgettable.

    Bravo JS(banned punctuation x2)


  5. - Incandenza - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:39 am:

    == basically a reboot of an old add and not very creative ==

    To be fair it’s an attack add on another reboot of an old candidate. We’re just re-running the same election as 2022, except the orange elephant in the room is even more toxic


  6. - Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:41 am:

    Rate B
    Not only is Darren Bailey extreme, he is very narrow-minded. Bailey’s policies of criticism and not collaboration are not the hallmarks of a true leader. His place is down on the farm growing magic beans to solve all of the challenges facing Illinois.

    Of course, we’ll never forget Bailey’s remarks that Chicago is a Hellhole. That will follow him everywhere.


  7. - Chicago Voter - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:44 am:

    I give it an A. Bailey’s words in Bailey’s voice.

    I hope the Pritzker team uses a sound bite of Bailey calling Soldier Field “Soliders Stadium” in an upcoming ad.


  8. - JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:46 am:

    @Incandenza- Totally agree


  9. - Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:51 am:

    B-

    Right, a retread of an old ad, but Bailey, in his own words, telling who he is.

    If this is aimed at moderate Independents, they’d probably think, yeah, this guy is too extreme for me.


  10. - Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:52 am:

    A-Nothing hits harder than a candidate’s own mouth.

    “Right now, my answer is no.”

    ILGOP just can’t wrap their heads around the fact they need suburban women.


  11. - Sue - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:53 am:

    Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope


  12. - ZZC - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 9:56 am:

    >> Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope

    Why? I gave it a solid B+ but I think that’s all Pritzker needs. I saw it as a form of fall housekeeping. This ad will displease the independent woman in the Cook County suburbs, who does need a reminder course on Darren Bailey, and as long as she is displeased, I don’t think Bailey has a chance.


  13. - lol - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:09 am:

    Sue must be new here and new to how Team Pritzker runs campaigns. Or maybe just new to politics in general. In what world is this race closer than one might hope? *gestures around*


  14. - Pundent - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:21 am:

    =Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope.=

    That’s your takeaway from this ad? If that’s the case then any ad from Pritzker might suggest a close race.

    While this ad lacks creativity it makes up for it in effectiveness. Using Bailey’s voice and words is always going to work well. It’s a clear message to the voters that he doesn’t talk like us figuratively and literally.

    In 30 seconds we’re reminded that Bailey likes tariffs, Trump, and guns, is a no exception pro-lifer, and thinks LGBTQ folks are weird.
    Overall I’d give the ad a B. It could be better but it really doesn’t have to be.


  15. - low level - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:28 am:

    ==Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope==

    Right. Go for it.

    ==Dinosaurs Against Darren==

    Brilliant. We need more creative thinking like that in the Dem Party.


  16. - Think Again - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:30 am:

    =Right, a retread of an old ad, but Bailey, in his own words, telling who he is=

    Sure, the clips may put Bailey in an unfavorable light, but every candidate has baggage. JB’s wiretap comes to mind.

    “On the recording, Pritzker suggests Blagojevich appoint Secretary of State Jesse White rather than other African- Americans, including Jesse Jackson Jr. or Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. He says doing so “covers you on the African-American thing.”


  17. - Steve - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:37 am:

    The Ad is an A.

    It hits all the points that JB be wants to hit in a short, understandable ad. This ad might not be effective in a swing state or a red state but here in Illinois: you can’t go wrong with this ad.


  18. - Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:38 am:

    Great caption…Dinosaurs Against Darren
    One would imagine that Darren Bailey never spent time reading and comprehending the Mesozoic Era. Darren might have skipped that chapter.

    And this guy thinks he’s qualified to be governor…what.


  19. - Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:46 am:

    The ad is an A. Darren Bailey is attempting to rebrand himself this time around and the Governor is reminding people exactly who he is and is using his own words to do it.

    As for @Sue’s contention that this ad is being run by someone who thinks the race is closer than people think, I would echo the thoughts of @lol. Pritzker doesn’t play around. He puts the gas peddle to the floor no matter where he is in the polls.


  20. - @misterjayem - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:51 am:

    “Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope”

    Or of someone campaigning for office.

    – MrJM


  21. - H-W - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 10:54 am:

    B

    It is a good ad, but it is familiar in the sense that it sounds like typical politicking. But overall, the ad touches on the key issues that clearly demonstrate the republicans’ extremism, which may motivate younger people to vote this year.

    As to the Dinosaurs Against Darren gathering, it makes me want to jump in my car and attend the Fair today. I bet the children will love seeing the dinosaurs regardless of context.


  22. - Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:25 am:

    “Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope”

    And when Pritzker dusts Bailey by double digits, again, you’ll be on here with garbage about how close it really was.

    Since you obviously don’t have enough sense for it, I’ll be embarrassed for you.


  23. - Big Dipper - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:42 am:

    I hesitate to ask Sue who won the 2020 presidential election.


  24. - Teacher Lady - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:51 am:

    I hope we see some Cap Fax coverage, including photos, of the Dinosaurs Against Darren protest.


  25. - Jocko - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 11:55 am:

    ==dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same time.==

    At the end of the lesson, do they watch Jurassic Park or The Flintstones? /S


  26. - Duck Duck Goose - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 12:12 pm:

    The ad’s fine for what it is, but it appears to give Bailey more publicity than Bailey can manage to muster for himself. The other day, Mrs. Duck Goose asked me who was running against Pritzker, and I had to stop and think about it before remembering the answer.


  27. - Anyone Remember - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 12:15 pm:

    Dinosaurs Against Bailey? Someone’s using the playbook from Count Binface …


  28. - Anon62704 - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 12:23 pm:

    =appears to give Bailey more publicity than Bailey can manage to muster for himself=

    Define your opposition before they can (re)define themselves.

    B


  29. - here we go again - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:00 pm:

    Ad is an A. Devastating to Bailey. What’s really sad about it is Darren has praised Trump to win primaries. But now he scurries away from the President whenever asked about him. I mean come on Darren, you’re going to lose anyway. At least go out fighting on your feet. If you’ll abandon a President most Republicans love, you’ll abandon anyone.


  30. - Proud Sucker - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:11 pm:

    “Ad seems like the actions of someone thinking the race is much closer then one might hope”

    Always run as if you are 10 points down…Always.


  31. - 47th Ward - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:24 pm:

    I give it a B. It’s good, standard stuff that reinforces how out of step Bailey is with the majority of Illinois voters.

    OTOH, it reminds Bailey’s supporters of his positives (in their view) and may energize them if any are wavering. An ad showing Bailey softening his right wing bona fides might hit harder.


  32. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:35 pm:

    The ad is an A.

    Polling probably shows Bailey trailing badly at this point.

    Bailey cannot raise money.

    The only danger for Democrats, especially down ballot, is Democrats decide to stay home.

    You have to remind them every day why they need to go to the polls, and the best way is with hot button issues.

    I think I would probably focus group an even more explicit message.

    Donald Trump might not be on the ballot in November, but his enablers in Springfield and Washington DC are.

    Illegal Tarriffs. Uncontrolled ICE agents. Unsafe food. Unjustified wars.

    Send a message to Trump this November that Illinois has had enough.

    Vote No on Darren Bailey and the rest of Team Trump.

    Respectfully,

    YDD


  33. - Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:37 pm:

    Please people, I beg of you. Advertising is shortened to ad, not add. One d please. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine and it makes me openly cringe whenever I see it.


  34. - Pundent - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 1:37 pm:

    =An ad showing Bailey softening his right wing bona fides might hit harder.=

    Meh. That’s a risk for Bailey to take, not Pritzker. This was a safe ad to run because it shows how out of touch Bailey is with the average Illinois voter. Now if Bailey wants to say this isn’t who he is today he’s free to do so.


  35. - Incandenza - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:11 pm:

    The ‘add’ v. ‘ad’ thing is a huge pet peeve of mine too, but here I am guilty today. Mea culpa, Rich.


  36. - JS Mill - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:51 pm:

    =The add is 100% factual=

    Rich, maybe I was referencing the “addition” to the political discourse that was happening as a result of the political advert.

    Maybe. /s


  37. - btowntruth from forgottonia - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 2:55 pm:

    B+
    The gun comment clip won’t help Pritzker a lot on downstate.
    But the concept of using Baileys own words is factual,Baileys LGBTQ comments and Trump support do not make him look good at all.


  38. - West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 4:19 pm:

    Humans and dinosaurs are walking the earth together again at Brookfield Zoo through October 25th, just like they did in 2022, so we shouldn’t be too hard on Bailey. Okay, only the humans are walking, the dinos stay in place, although they do move and make dino sounds.


  39. - Behind the Scenes - Thursday, Aug 20, 26 @ 4:54 pm:

    Man, it must have hot in those (apparently) rubberized or real rubber costumes today. In that sun, 82 felt more like 92.


  40. - bazillion - Friday, Aug 21, 26 @ 10:09 am:

    At first, I thought it was a Bailey campaign ad


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