Chicago City Wire

Darren Bailey, a former state senator who was Illinois’s GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2022, is criticizing the mayorship of Brandon Johnson. 

Bailey, a candidate for Illinois’s 12th Congressional District, noted the decline of Chicago in a recent Facebook post. 

“As goes Chicago, so goes Illinois,” Bailey wrote. “As goes Illinois, so goes our country. Let’s change that!” 

Johnson's first month in office has been marred by a significant surge in crime, with a notable 38% increase compared to the same period last year, Washington Examiner reported. Alarming statistics reveal a staggering 153% spike in vehicle thefts, a 17% rise in aggravated battery cases, a 12% jump in burglaries, and a 5% increase in shootings. Murders saw a slight 5% decrease, resulting in just three fewer fatalities. Despite the mayor's active presence on social media covering various topics, scant attention has been given to public safety and crime-related concerns. Johnson's prior support for defunding the police, coupled with a lack of action to address the ongoing crime wave, raises doubts about his approach to tackling this pressing issue.

Bailey addressed Chicago’s problems in a video to the post.

“So speaking of Chicago, 37 shot, three killed over the weekend,” Bailey said in a video. “You're not going to see that in very many headlines. And now we're reading and hearing about that more and more and more cities across our nation. Another headline this morning, Chicago, the worst city for pensions, a $35 billion deficit. And yet they just got through electing the king of all this with Brandon Johnson. You know, from the teachers union, they just got through electing a person that has, you know, pretty much been responsible for creating this problem as far as he's concerned for the last several years. It's nonsense. Absolute nonsense. Why aren't we talking about the issues in Chicago.”

On Independence Day Bailey, announced his candidacy for Congress in Southern Illinois' 12th District, challenging incumbent Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL) in the primary. Known for his conservative politics and endorsement by former president Donald Trump, Bailey emphasized his commitment to opposing "woke nonsense" and fighting for Southern Illinois' values and freedoms. The race is expected to be closely watched, with both candidates being Trump supporters in a district that voted for Trump in the 2020 and 2016 elections.

In a recent column, Rich Miller noted the rare primary challenge from former state legislator and gubernatorial candidate Bailey. Miller opined, Bailey is positioning himself as an outsider against career politician Bost. While Bost enjoys significant campaign funding and support from the National Republican Congressional Committee, Bailey's name recognition and far-right credentials could make the race competitive.