A new poll of Illinois voters has found that Democratic Governor JB Pritzker still holds the lead over his potential Republican rival in next year’s gubernatorial election, despite his approval rating dipping.

In a survey of more than 1,200 likely Illinois voters, carried out between November 20 and 25 and seen by Fox 32, Chicago-based Victory Research put Pritzker at 54.3 percent of the vote, compared to 34 percent for GOP candidate Darren Bailey.

Newsweek reached out to Pritzker and Bailey’s campaigns, as well as Victory Research, via email Tuesday morning for comment.

Why It Matters

Pritzker has become one of the leading Democrats trying to stand up to President Donald Trump and his immigration policies, which in turn has meant the Republican has attacked the Illinois governor over his record on crime, particularly in Chicago.

First elected in 2019, Pritzker is hoping for a third term as governor, and next year’s election will fall on the same day as the midterms—a key test for the Trump administration and the Republican Party’s grip on Congress.

What To Know

When voters were asked to pit Pritzker against his potential Republican rivals, Victory Research noted he did well, including the lead over Bailey, a former state senator whom he defeated in 2022.

Other names on the GOP list were less well known, including DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick; policy expert Ted Dabrowski; and Rick Heidner, a real estate developer.

While name recognition appeared to be on Pritzker’s side in the poll, there were some policy areas which caused concern among the voters surveyed, including crime, taxation, and immigration.

On crime, Pritzker received a 34.1 percent good rating, compared to 58.9 percent of voters saying he was doing a bad job. When it came to immigration—a key issue the current governor has been vocal on—he received a 36.3 percent positive rating, compared to 57 percent bad.

Overall, 59.5 percent of those polled felt Illinois was on the wrong track.

For Bailey, who recently took time off from his campaign to grieve the loss of his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in a helicopter crash, he recently told the Chicago Tribune that he feels confident in his chances going into next year’s election, having learned lessons from his 2022 campaign.

One such lesson was the pushback he got from calling Chicago a “hellhole” three years ago, saying he understood the city had its problems, but that Chicagoans were proud of their city—one which has been a focal point for Trump’s immigration crackdown in recent months.

Pritzker, meanwhile, had focused on the impact of Trump’s policies on his state, including rising grocery prices and health care costs, while also appearing alongside those protesting the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago and surrounding towns.

What People Are Saying

JB Pritzker, on X November 20: “You shouldn’t be burdened with financial uncertainty just because you got sick. While the Trump administration is causing chaos and making health care unaffordable for working families, in Illinois, we are working to ease the financial burden for the most vulnerable.”

Darren Bailey, speaking to the Chicago Tribune December 1 on Trump’s agenda: “I believe that in the next nine months, I personally believe that we’re going to see some of this stuff make sense. I mean, right now in Illinois, I point my fingers solidly at JB Pritzker and I have to ask: Why? Why the gas tax (increasing every year)? Why? Just why the continued spending? Why, every time there is a problem, we never address the problem?”

What’s Next

The Illinois primary day is scheduled for March 17, 2026, for both parties. Election day itself will be November 3, 2026.

CHICAGO (WLS) — Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey spoke with ABC7 Chicago for the first time about the tragic helicopter crash that took the lives of four of his family members back in October.

Bailey took some time off from the campaign trail, but is now back at it.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

It is an uphill battle for Republicans looking to hold any statewide office in Illinois, but Bailey believes he is up for the fight this time around. His family tragedy was a devastating blow, but it’s also something that’s motivating him more than ever to try and bring about change.

“Well, it’s tough, and it has been life changing,” Bailey said. “One of the biggest things that has taken place is just our renewed passion for life.”

Six weeks ago, a tragic helicopter crash in Montana took the lives of his son, Zach; daughter-in-law, Kelsey; and two grandchildren, 12-year-old Vada Rose and 7-year-old Samuel. Finn, 10, was not onboard.

Zach was piloting the chopper.

“I’ve never lost anyone close to me, you know, especially anyone, even unexpectedly like this. So, my compassion for people has also kind of been heightened,” Bailey said.

Bailey remembers getting the news while campaigning in Freeport, Illinois.

“You see in movies, sometimes how everything is in slow motion. As I think back to that, that’s exactly what, that’s exactly how my mind is playing out,” he said.

Bailey and his wife then rushed to Montana to break the news to their grandson, Finn.

“He just looked up, and he said, ‘papa, what are you doing here?’ So I just said, ‘well, grandma, honey, and I wanted to come out and see you, to come outside and get your shoes on, and she’s waiting in the car for you,’” he said. “Soon as he opened the door and saw Cindy, he knew what was going on. So just to watch that set of emotions that took place then was just, was just, I’ll never forget that.”

They got Finn a new puppy, a golden lab named Reagan, to replace the dog who died in the helicopter crash.

“We’re just staying busy doing things and just regaining a new appreciation for everyone. This puppy, I can already tell you, is going to be, is going to be solidify things even more,” Bailey said.

The tragedy drew his downstate Illinois family closer despite the void at Thanksgiving.

Bailey and his wife, Cindy, are now raising their grandson, Finn, with the help of other family members, who he says support his second campaign for governor.

Bailey lost by more than 12 points to incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022. This time he’s learned some lessons.

“Probably one of the big things that we learned is, is targeting the low-propensity voter and informing them and making things available to help them understand whether to vote early. Do we need to come and pick you up?” Bailey said.

Bailey remains a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump despite harsh Democratic criticism of the president’s policies, including the aggressive immigration enforcement campaign in Chicago and the suburbs.

Trump endorsed Bailey in 2022.

“I think that if JB Pritzker and Brandon Johnson, if they would have addressed this years ago, if they would choose to work with President Trump, I don’t know that we would have seen these issues,” Bailey said. “He’s the president. And I think that in time, I think that many of his policies are going to prove to be the right thing that’s going on.”

And that includes President Trump’s tariffs on soybeans, which Bailey says are a means to an end to help farmers.

Bailey also supports using the National Guard to battle crime in Chicago if that’s what it takes.

Bailey says he’s sorry if anyone thinks he’s trying to use this tragedy to help his campaign.

He says what it is for him is a motivation to try and make Illinois a better place for his 11 grandchildren, and a 12th one now on the way.

Bailey is one of seven candidates currently running for the Republican nomination, with the primary next March.

Hundreds of gallons of milk are being recalled from Woodman’s Markets grocery stores across Illinois and Wisconsin after it was found that the cartons may be contaminated with “food-grade cleaning agents,” which could lead to illnesses if consumed.

The recall was initiated Nov. 25 by Prairie Farms of Edwardsville, a release from the Food and Drug Administration announced, and applies to select Prairie Farms Gallon Fat Free Milk products at its Dubuque, Iowa facility. Before the issue was discovered, approximately 320 gallons of the milk were distributed to 18 Woodman’s stores in Illinois and Wisconsin, including many in the Chicago suburbs and surrounding areas, the release said.

Only a specific segment of the milk’s production was impacted, the release said. The recall only applies to gallons of fat free Prairie Farms milk with a code date of Dec. 8, 2025, UPS code of 7273023117 and a PLT19-145 plant code produced during a time window of 17:51 to 21:23, the FDA said.

Prarie Farms was first made aware of the quality control issue Nov. 24. Those who purchased the product with the above code dates should not consume it, the release said. Customers should dispose of it or return it to the store for a refund.

“All remaining affected product has been removed from store shelves,” the release added. NBC Chicago reached out to Prairie Farms for more details.

According to the release, the product was distributed to the following Woodman’s Markets grocery stores:

Illinois
Bloomingdale
Buffalo Grove
Carpentersville
Lakemoor
North Aurora
Rockford

Wisconsin
Appleton
Beloit
Green Bay
Janesville
Kenosha
Madison
Menomonee Falls
Oak Creek
Onalaska
Racine
Sun Prairie
Waukesha