Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) speaks at a news conference at the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police in August. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]

On a February 2021 night in Effingham less than one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, first-term Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) announced he would challenge Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022.

“We've tried the country club approach. We've tried the Chicago Loop approach. And I don't think that's worked for anyone in this room,” Bailey told supporters at his campaign kickoff.