{"id":33292,"date":"2026-03-19T08:12:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:12:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=33292"},"modified":"2026-03-19T08:15:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T13:15:13","slug":"republicans-seeking-unity-as-party-seeks-to-reverse-decade-of-statewide-losses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/33292-republicans-seeking-unity-as-party-seeks-to-reverse-decade-of-statewide-losses\/","title":{"rendered":"Bailey Says Campaign Will Focus on Chicago Area After Rough Primary Night in Suburbs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md-12\">\n<div class=\"entry-header\">\n<h2 class=\"jeg_post_subtitle\"><\/h2>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_container\">\n<div class=\"jeg_post_meta jeg_post_meta_1\">\n<div class=\"meta_left\">\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_author coauthor\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CNI-Staff_SZALINSKI_300.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/CNI-Staff_SZALINSKI_300.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 2x\" alt=\"Ben Szalinski\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" \/><span class=\"meta_text \">by<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/author\/ben-szalinski\/\">Ben Szalinski<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_date\">\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs\/\">March 18, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_category\"><span class=\"meta_text\">in<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/category\/elections\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Elections<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"meta_right\">\n<div class=\"jeg_meta_zoom\" data-in-step=\"3\" data-out-step=\"2\">\n<div class=\"zoom-dropdown\">\n<div class=\"zoom-icon\"><span class=\"zoom-icon-small\">A<\/span>\u00a0<span class=\"zoom-icon-big\">A<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_featured featured_image \">\n<div class=\"thumbnail-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-post-image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BAILEY-UNITY-BS.jpg?resize=1140%2C570&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Darren Bailey\" width=\"1140\" height=\"570\" data-attachment-id=\"106453\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs\/260318-bailey-unity-bs\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BAILEY-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C740&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1140,740\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"260318-BAILEY-UNITY-BS\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Darren Bailey &lt;\/p&gt; \" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)&lt;\/p&gt; \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BAILEY-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=300%2C195&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-BAILEY-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C740&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"jeg_share_top_container\">\n<div class=\"jeg_share_button clearfix\">\n<div class=\"jeg_sharelist\"><a class=\"jeg_btn-facebook expanded\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fbailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs%2F\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-official\"><\/i>Facebook<\/a><a class=\"jeg_btn-twitter expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Bailey%20says%20campaign%20will%20focus%20on%20Chicago%20area%20after%20rough%20primary%20night%20in%20suburbs%20via%20%40%40CapitolNewsIL&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fbailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs%2F\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Twitter\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter\"><\/i>Share<\/a><a class=\"jeg_btn-reddit expanded\" href=\"https:\/\/reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcapitolnewsillinois.com%2Fnews%2Fbailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs%2F&amp;title=Bailey%20says%20campaign%20will%20focus%20on%20Chicago%20area%20after%20rough%20primary%20night%20in%20suburbs\" rel=\"nofollow\" aria-label=\"Share on Reddit\"><i class=\"fa fa-reddit\"><\/i>Reddit<\/a><i class=\"fa fa-share\"><\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"jeg_main_content col-md-8\">\n<div class=\"jeg_inner_content\">\n<div class=\"jeg_ad jeg_article jnews_content_top_ads \">\n<div class=\"ads-wrapper \"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content no-share\">\n<div class=\"jeg_share_button share-float jeg_sticky_share clearfix share-monocrhome\">\n<div class=\"jegStickyHolder\">\n<div class=\"theiaStickySidebar\">\n<div class=\"jeg_share_float_container\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content-inner \">\n<div class=\"summary-box-gray\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"Summary Box\">\n<h3><strong>Article Summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Republican gubernatorial nominee Darren Bailey said his campaign will focus heavily on the Chicago area.<\/li>\n<li>Bailey heavily lost suburban counties in Tuesday\u2019s primary that he won four years ago but said he intentionally focused on downstate in recent months.<\/li>\n<li>Bailey said he will also be trying to win over more moderate voters who don\u2019t share views as conservative as his \u2014 two years after trying to primary a conservative downstate congressman from the right.<\/li>\n<li>The state Republican Party overall is also trying to present a more united front for the general election after the party has been bruised by internal divisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>NAPERVILLE \u2014 Tuesday night\u2019s primary results show downstate farmer and former state lawmaker Darren Bailey will have his work cut out for him in the Chicago area as he tries for a second time to unseat Gov. JB Pritzker.<\/p>\n<p>He and other members began that work in earnest at a unity breakfast in Naperville on Wednesday morning \u2013 an area of the state that will be a focus for the statewide candidates as the primary results once again demonstrated the fault lines of Illinois\u2019 electorate.<\/p>\n<p>Bailey was trounced by conservative researcher Ted Dabrowski in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties, and is so far trailing him among the 290 GOP primary voters in Alexander County on the state\u2019s southern tip.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/elections\/election-results\/illinois\/2022-primaries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">In the 2022 primary<\/a>, Bailey won all but one county in the state against his well-funded competitor, Richard Irvin.<\/p>\n<p>Dabrowski, a resident of north suburban Wilmette, has received 48% of the vote in Cook County to Bailey\u2019s 31%. Four years ago, Bailey was the one who received 48% of the vote in the state\u2019s most populous county.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs far as the primary was concerned, nothing went wrong,\u201d Bailey told reporters. \u201cWe came up here, we spent time, but we knew the primary is won in the other counties, so we focused on that as part of the strategy. For the next eight months, get used to me because you\u2019re going to be seeing me up here almost every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But the geographic divide was also evident in the race for the GOP\u2019s secretary of state nomination, which pitted Joliet Junior College Trustee Diane Harris against Walter Adamczyk, a GOP committeeman for Chicago\u2019s 29th Ward.<\/p>\n<p>Harris appeared poised to carry virtually all of the state\u2019s counties outside 11 counties in the state\u2019s northwest corner, which were carried by Adamczyk.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?quality=89&amp;ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-106451 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?resize=1140%2C636&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?w=1140&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?resize=300%2C167&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?resize=768%2C428&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?resize=750%2C418&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 750w\" alt=\"Illinois election maps\" width=\"1140\" height=\"636\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-attachment-id=\"106451\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs\/republican-maps-jn-ap\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?fit=1140%2C636&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1140,636\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"republican maps &amp;#8211; JN-AP\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;2026 Election&lt;\/p&gt; \" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Election results from the 2026 March primary reported by the Associated Press show differences in voters\u2019 preferences between the Chicago area and downstate counties. (Capitol News Illinois illustration)&lt;\/p&gt; \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?fit=300%2C167&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/republican-maps-JN-AP.jpg?fit=1140%2C636&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Election results from the 2026 March primary reported by the Associated Press show differences in voters\u2019 preferences between the Chicago area and downstate counties. (Capitol News Illinois illustration)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bailey performed well with the base of Republican voters in the state. He received more than three-quarters of the vote in many of the state\u2019s most rural counties and took home more than 90% of the vote in his home county of Clay. But statewide, Bailey has also underperformed the benchmarks he set four years ago when he received 57% of the vote, so far coming in at 53.5% this year with 95% of votes counted.<\/p>\n<p>Turnout in the Republican primary also appears to be down overall from 2022,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/elections\/primary-results-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">according to initial unofficial results<\/a>, although ballots are still being counted.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>New campaign strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Another big question is whether Bailey can convince voters that this year will be different from 2022, when he lost to Pritzker by 12 points. Bailey\u2019s opponents urged voters to reject him in the primary, arguing that a rematch will yield the same result.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe understand where we failed the last time and we\u2019re fixing those and we\u2019re getting into every ward and every area and every district of Chicago, and we\u2019re going to earn their respect and support,\u201d Bailey said.<\/p>\n<p>Pritzker\u2019s campaign is already taking swings at Bailey, launching a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/jbpritzker.us6.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=27da4800ea6635051581886a7&amp;id=d6a7f279d7&amp;e=3390270931\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">video<\/a>\u00a0saying \u201cDarren Bailey is back and he\u2019s still too extreme for Illinois.\u201d Bailey\u2019s team hit back with their own\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/DarrenBaileyIL\/status\/2034253622901461450\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital ad<\/a>\u00a0highlighting questions that have been raised about Pritzker\u2019s wealth.<\/p>\n<p>Asked about how his conservative views will play on the campaign trail this year, Bailey acknowledged he needs to broaden his appeal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI served as a state senator from very conservative districts, and we come up here up north and we find out that, you know, not everybody thinks the same,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cWe\u2019re focusing on what people do agree on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Republican has not won a race for a statewide office since 2014.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Party unity<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The other major challenge Bailey faces is competing with Pritzker\u2019s vast personal wealth. The governor spent $300 million on his first two campaigns and he\u2019s already dumped $25.5 million in his campaign coffers this year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t have to match JB Pritzker dollar for dollar,\u201d Bailey said. \u201cWhat we need is people to get registered to vote, to show up to vote.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bailey said one of his wealthy primary opponents, Rick Heidner, has \u201cstepped up to the plate\u201d for an unspecified contribution. Heidner, who carried less than 9% of the vote, did not immediately return a request for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Bailey chose running mate Aaron Del Mar, the Cook County Republican Party chair, largely in an effort to woo Chicago-area voters. Bailey also appears to have work to do convincing some of his opponents to support him in November.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?quality=89&amp;ssl=1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-106452\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?resize=1140%2C786&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?w=1140&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?resize=300%2C207&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?resize=768%2C530&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?resize=750%2C517&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1 750w\" alt=\"Aaron Del Mar\" width=\"1140\" height=\"786\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" data-attachment-id=\"106452\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/news\/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs\/260318-del-mar-unity-bs\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C786&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1140,786\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Aaron Del Mar&lt;\/p&gt; \" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar, Darren Bailey\u2019s running mate, speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)&lt;\/p&gt; \" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=300%2C207&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/260318-DEL-MAR-UNITY-BS.jpg?fit=1140%2C786&amp;quality=89&amp;ssl=1\" data-pin-no-hover=\"true\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<figure><figcaption>Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar, Darren Bailey\u2019s running mate, speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Ben Szalinski)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cRight now, it\u2019s a time for healing, and there\u2019s been so much work, so much effort put not just by the candidates, but by all of their staff and by all their volunteers,\u201d Del Mar, told reporters when asked if the other Republican opponents have committed to supporting Bailey\u2019s ticket. \u201cSo, there\u2019s going to take a little bit of time to heal, and I want to offer grace to each and every one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dabrowski issued a statement late Wednesday congratulating Bailey and wishing him well in the general election although he didn\u2019t attend the breakfast.<\/p>\n<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">\u201cThe goal of defeating Pritzker and restoring the quality to life in Illinois has not changed,\u201d he said in the emailed statement. \u201cI will not be the standard-bearer for this effort, but I will commit to the task that remains at hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi did not speak to reporters following Wednesday\u2019s breakfast. The state party has been plagued by internal divisions for several years over how much it should embrace President Donald Trump and conservative candidates.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has performed poorly every time he\u2019s been on Illinois\u2019 ballot, and Bailey seemed to acknowledge that fact in his Tuesday night election speech. But the candidates who align themselves with the present often perform best in state primaries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re going to hear JB Pritzker and his Democrat allies try to compare me to Donald Trump and use some pretty mean words while doing it,\u201d he said. \u201cWell, there are things that I agree with Donald Trump about, and there are things that I disagree with him about. I am my own man. But when Trump is right, we\u2019re going to try to do those things in Illinois.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Republican Party\u2019s divisions were further exposed in a downstate House race on Tuesday. In the 94<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0House District in western Illinois, Henderson County Republican Josh Higgins defeated Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb, with 58% of the vote. Higgins was backed by the far-right Freedom Caucus.<\/p>\n<p>Hammond was a member of House Minority Leader Tony McCombie\u2019s leadership team, which the Freedom Caucus opposes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJosh Higgins\u2019 victory is a loud and clear statement that the grassroots will no longer tolerate frauds in the Republican party, much less as a \u2018leader\u2019 of the Republican caucus,\u201d the Freedom Caucus said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/capitolnewsillinois.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Capitol News Illinois<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> byBen Szalinski \u00a0March 18, 2026 in\u00a0Elections A\u00a0A Republican nominee for governor Darren Bailey speaks to reporters following a Republican Party breakfast in Naperville on March 18, 2026. (Capitol News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bailey Says Campaign Will Focus on Chicago Area After Rough Primary Night in Suburbs - Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Effingham&#039;s News and Sports Leader\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/local-news\/33292-republicans-seeking-unity-as-party-seeks-to-reverse-decade-of-statewide-losses\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bailey Says Campaign Will Focus on Chicago Area After Rough Primary Night in Suburbs - 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