The Illinois governor’s race this year has candidates from both parties emphasizing how to make life more affordable.

Focusing on topics like utility bills or property taxes, both Democrats and Republicans are vowing to find a better path forward for people in Illinois.

As the March primary creeps closer, the buzz word is affordability, and both parties want to own that message.

On Thursday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which aims to lower monthly utility bills. It’s expected to save customers $13.4 billion over next two decades, according to the Illinois Power Agency.

Pritzker said new energy resources will be developed and cost-saving programs will be created.

"We’re expanding programs that make it cheaper for households and businesses to adopt efficiency upgrades. We’ve incentivized the use of solar panels and smart thermostats, small batteries and electric vehicles to support the grid, lowering energy use and in turn, energy bills," Pritzker said Thursday in Joliet.

On the Republican side, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey held his news conference Thursday outside of the governor’s office. He laid out his "Blueprint for Illinois," which would freeze new utility rate hikes to help lower utility bills and offer property tax relief.

"This plan establishes a clear standard: No family should be required to pay more in their property taxes than their mortgage payment. It caps annual property tax increases and requires the state to meet its responsibility to fund education fairly," Bailey said.

The Republican primary is on March 17. The other candidates running include Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner.