Darren Bailey raised more than $300,000 from large donations in his first full quarter as the Republican nominee for governor, but he now faces the challenge of beating the sitting governor and an independent candidate. 

Bailey, a former state senator and the 2022 Republican nominee for governor, ended the first quarter with $81,839 after staving off multiple primary challengers.  

Bailey added $332,997.15 from donations over $1,000 in the second quarter of 2026, which began April 1 and ended June 30.  

The former state senator received contributions from myriad business owners, farmers, individuals and fellow Republicans — largely from downstate counties.  

He received $1,000 from former Illinois Republican Party chair and current U.S. Senate nominee Don Tracy, who is facing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the race to be Illinois’ next junior senator.  

Bailey also received transfers from the campaign accounts of state Reps. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora), Regan Deering (R-Decatur) and John Cabello (R-Machesney Park).  

He received a combined $35,500 from downstate Republican parties, including $2,500 from the Clay County Republican Central Committee, where Bailey’s family farm is located.  

The Marion County Republican Women also gave $3,500 to Bailey’s campaign.  

The Presidential Coalition — a national organization with a mission of supporting conservative Republican candidates at all levels of government, according to their website — also gave $2,000.  

Missing are some of the large donors that backed Bailey’s 2022 bid for governor, including billionaire Richard Uihlein.  

The campaign will look to raise as much money as possible to try and keep up with the $25 million Gov. JB Pritzker gave to his own campaign fund at the end of 2025.  

The Bailey campaign also faces a challenge from independent candidate Collin Corbett, a former Republican strategist who says he is discontent with the direction of the party.  

Bailey’s running mate Aaron Del Mar and Republican activist Kristina McCloy challenged 20,000 of the 37,000 signatures submitted by Corbett. Independent candidates need 25,000 signatures to appear on the ballot in Illinois.  

Corbett was found to have more than 27,000 valid signatures and will appear on the ballot.  

The independent candidate created his campaign fund May 1 and loaned himself $500,000 June 25. He reported $53,661 in contributions over $1,000.  

Full campaign disclosures are due July 15.