CHICAGO (WGN) — A sexual harassment scandal. Crime concerns. There is no shortage of issues Illinois republicans could pounce on; but other than fanning the flames on social media and issuing press releases, they’ve been fairly quiet.

Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey hasn’t held a press conference in more than a month in the Chicago region. His team posted a picture of a meet-and-greet at a Pilsen restaurant last week that featured 12 people in the frame. We’re a little more than three months before the election.

“I do think people are making these points; but they’re making them in the silos,” said Richard Porter, a former Republican National Committeeman from Illinois. “I think there’s a mistake people make. We’re online so much. You’re connecting with people all over the state and it’s really cool; but I think the thing we need to realize is the algorithm drives us to meet the people that think the way we think.

“They’re not introducing us to people who are undecided or unaware of what our issues are.”

The stealth approach to campaigning is also surprising given that Bailey’s opponent — billionaire incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker — has a campaign war chest of more than $25 million compared to Bailey’s less than $1 million raised.  Traditionally, candidates who are low on money clamor for the publicity of photo ops and interviews with local media.

Bailey’s campaign said the farmer-turned-politician is currently focusing on energizing supporters downstate and will spend ample time in the Chicago region soon. The campaign contends voters aren’t yet paying attention to the November race.

Bailey lost to Pritzker by nearly 13 points in 2022.  Analysts said his past strategy of focusing on downstate voters and appealing to Trump supporters, put simply, couldn’t overcome the democratic vote in Northeast Illinois. They suggested that he needs to win over swing suburban voters.

Previously, Bailey said he got the message this time around. He made it known that he and his wife were renting a condo in Chicago. He showed up to make an appeal to city voters during the public comments section of a City Council meeting in May, where he apologized for previously referring to Chicago as a “hellhole.”

Bailey has also downplayed his previous support of Trump and acknowledged his pro-life beliefs won’t change state abortion laws.

His running mate, Aaron Del Mar, is from Cook County and frequently makes media appearances.

Bailey has said he would work to repeal the SAFE-T Act if elected governor. However, it’s unclear how he would do that, given Democrats hold super-majorities in both chambers of the legislature. He’s also repeatedly criticized Democrats — and judges — for being too lenient on people accused of committing crimes. But Bailey hasn’t driven that message home — and distinguished GOP and democratic strategies — with news conferences and photo ops at crime scenes. 

Porter sees that as a missed opportunity: “There is, on the left, there is sometimes an excusing for this violence that we on the right reject,” Porter told WGN-TV. “The people who are the subject of the violence, they don’t want to — they share the view — they’re available to us [as voters] to understand crime has to stop. We should not have a laissez-faire attitude toward criminals.”