Incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker, seeking a rare third term as Illinois governor, squares off with Republican nominee Darren Bailey and independent candidate Collin Corbett.

Why does this sound familiar?

Pritzker was first elected in 2018, and this year’s contest presents a rematch of his 2022 reelection victory when he beat Bailey by nearly 13 percentage points.

Why does this race matter?

The governor serves as the state’s chief executive officer, helping set the legislative agenda for the Illinois General Assembly, proposing state budgets, appointing leaders of state agencies and advocating for federal resources, among other sweeping responsibilities.

Who is JB Pritzker?

Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, is a former entrepreneur and philanthropist who has championed a series of progressive causes during two terms at a tumultuous point in the state’s history, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and regularly butting heads with President Donald Trump’s administration.

Widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, Pritzker would be the first Illinois governor elected to a third term since former Republican Gov. Jim Thompson won the third of his four terms in 1982.

Who is Darren Bailey?

Bailey is a farmer and former state senator from southern Illinois who elevated his profile as a vociferous critic of COVID-19 restrictions implemented by Pritzker early in the pandemic, maintaining his hardline conservative base in downstate regions en route to a second straight gubernatorial nomination.

Trump endorsed Bailey’s 2022 campaign and encouraged him to stay in the 2026 race in the face of immense personal tragedy last year when a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Bailey’s son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.

Who is Collin Corbett?

Corbett is a moderate Republican political consultant running as an independent. He collected 37,000 signatures to get on the ballot.

A fiscal conservative who supports abortion rights and opposes much of the Trump agenda, the millennial candidate says he offers middle ground in a polarized political climate.