(The Center Square) – One month from election day, Gov. J.B. Pritzker received an endorsement from a former top Springfield Republican who served over Pritzker’s opponent during his time in the Illinois House of Representatives.
In a campaign video released Monday, former Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, who retired in 2023, endorsed Gov. J.B. Pritzker in his bid for a third term leading Illinois.
Durkin was critical of Bailey and his time within the House – a two-year period in which the two were in the chamber at the same time.
“It’s unfortunate but I cannot cast my vote for my party’s nominee. I served with Darren Bailey in Springfield and I know what he is and isn’t capable of,” Durkin said. “His politics don’t work for me, nor the Republican Party I know. He’s never accomplished anything for Illinois and he’s not cut out for the job.”
Bailey, after casting his early-vote ballot Monday morning, responded by saying the endorsement and both men behind it are only concerned with themselves.
“Jim Durkin and J.B. Pritzker, they don’t give a damn about you and they don’t give a damn about anyone in the state of Illinois. And I’m really angry and frustrated about that,” Bailey said.
Durkin went further in the video to say he thinks Bailey shouldn’t lead the state, instead endorsing Pritzker despite having political differences.
“Frankly, he cannot be trusted to lead our state. I may not agree with JB on everything, but he’s a good person and he’s delivered on matters important to me and to the state,” Durkin said.
Bailey said Durkin is angling for a potential cabinet-level position if Pritzker runs for and wins the presidency in 2026.
“He assumes that Pritzker is running for president and he is also assuming a cabinet position by doing this. This is all smoke and mirrors,” Bailey said.
In further discussion about the endorsement with The Center Square, Bailey shared his thoughts on the former leader.
“I was one of the first Republicans to stand up in caucus when Jim Durkin formulated a plan with Mike Madigan that half of the, you know, half of the caucus would vote for the gas tax. I mean, this is what Jim Durkin does,” Bailey said.
Alongside Durkin, 19 other House Republicans voted in favor of a gas tax hike statewide in 2019 – a measure that has led to yearly fuel tax increases since, apart from Pritzker pausing the current year’s increase until January.
Bailey said he doesn’t think Durkin’s endorsement of his opponent undermines his efforts to raise support in and around Chicago, even though Durkin is from the area.
“I think it solidifies it because everyone I’m running across, whether they’re independents, whether they’re Democrats, they’re fed up. It’s too expensive to live in Illinois. The SAFE-T Act is failing. You know, he had some input on that as well,” Bailey said.
Bailey said looking back at Durkin’s time in leadership, his efforts led to “the complete dismantling of the conservative movement for Illinois.”
