PPP poll: Pritzker ahead by 20 points
Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I don’t know anything about Chicago News Weekly, but I do know about PPP. I don’t vouch for anyone’s polling these days, but check it out anyway...
Gov. JB Pritzker holds a 20-point lead over Republican challenger Darren Bailey, while Democratic candidates are ahead in four other statewide races surveyed in the first statewide election poll commissioned by Chicago News Weekly.
The survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling from Sept. 30 through Oct. 1, included 569 Illinois voters. Pritzker received 54% support in the governor’s race, compared with 34% for Bailey. Independent candidate Collin Corbett received 6%, while another 6% of respondents were undecided.
Democratic candidates also led each of the other four statewide contests included in the poll. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Juliana Stratton received 49% support to Republican Don Tracy’s 36%, with 15% of respondents undecided.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul received 52% support, compared with 38% for Republican Bob Fioretti, while 11% were undecided. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias led Republican Diane Harris 55% to 37%, with 8% undecided. In the comptroller race, Democrat Margaret Croke received 48% support to Republican Bryan Drew’s 37%, while 15% had not selected a candidate. […]
The CNW poll also asked voters about President Donald Trump’s job performance, 33% approved of the job Trump is doing as president, while 61% disapproved, and 6% were unsure.
Click here for toplines and some crosstabs.
- Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 11:29 am:
That’s odd. Bailey’s secret poll has him within striking distance/s
- Anon62704 - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 11:36 am:
If you account for the pollster bias, the margin of error, and the unreliability of SMS responses, it’s a much rosier picture for Bailey! /s
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 11:38 am:
Looks like about a third of the Republican respondents to this poll are unwilling to identify as Republicans and still claim to be independents. Must be pretty embarrassing to be a Republican these days. The Republican candidates with the worse name recognition are polling better than the Republican with the best name recognition.
Also fun to see Darren doing so well with 2 year degree holders. All of the Republicans, in fact. Trying to decide if that’s due to the significant investment in community colleges in very rural areas that are also Republican or if those community colleges just aren’t as effective at education. These poll results are certainly something for elected officials to keep in mind when we return to the notion of a community college granting 4 year degrees.
Why an associates degree an outlier?
Here’s hoping that 7% is such a small sample it can’t be considered statistically significant, but if it is some how accurate of a trend — what a fun question to explore.
===Bailey’s secret poll has him within striking distance/s ===
Falling on your face counts as striking the floor.
- Think Again - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 11:40 am:
=Gov. JB Pritzker holds a 20-point lead over Republican challenger Darren Bailey=
There is no doubt JB will win; one potential unintended negative of such huge positive polling could be some Dem voters staying home due to the projected landslide. Certainly not enough to help Bailey win, but overall turnout could be impacted
- Lurker - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 11:57 am:
Good to see those numbers amongst those 45 and under. Gives hope.
@Candy: I participated in a poll last month. I had a tough time on the first question. I finally said I was still Republican but yes, I am voting straight Democrat
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 12:02 pm:
54% lines up with Pritzker’s percentages from the last two elections. I’ll be curious to see if that (and his total vote share) increases, decreases, or holds steady as indicators for the future.
Not that it matters if the ILGOP stay mired in MAGA Land for the foreseeable future.
- B - Tuesday, Oct 6, 26 @ 12:04 pm:
Is this that republican pollster?
Im upset the lead isnt 30