Darren Bailey R

Republican candidate for Governor

June 28, 2022 primary: won with 458,102 votes (57.5%) · November 8, 2022 general: lost with 1,739,095 votes (100%)

🔓 Contribution limits are off in their race (limits off for race).

Also ran for Governor in 2026 ($1.5M raised).

Worth a look

Worth a look Late reports

2 large contributions ($2,000) reported on an A-1 after the deadline

A contribution of $1,000 or more must be reported to the State Board of Elections within 5 business days (2 in the last 30 days before an election the candidate is on the ballot for). The latest: $1,000 from Roger Hubele, received 2021-03-02, reported 2021-03-22: 14 business days, 9 past the deadline.

What to check

The receipt date is what the committee reported; a correction or a typo there changes the count.
A contribution received and returned within the same quarterly period needn't be reported on an A-1.
The Board decides on fines and can waive them (inadvertence, clerical error, days late).

The entries (2)

Name	Date	A-1 filed	Business days	Allowed	Amount
Roger Hubele	2021-03-02	2021-03-22	14	5	$1,000
Raymond Nelson	2022-06-06	2022-06-21	10	2	$1,000

Rule: Large contributions reported late

“A political committee shall file a report of any contribution of $1,000 or more electronically with the Board within 5 business days after receipt of the contribution, except that the report shall be filed within 2 business days after receipt if (i) the contribution is received 30 or fewer days before the date of an election”10 ILCS 5/9-10(c) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Context Late reports

1 quarterly report filed late (up to 3 days)

Quarterly reports are due by the 15th of the month after each quarter. The report for the quarter ending 2022-03-31 was due 2022-04-15 and filed 2022-04-18.

What to check

A paper report postmarked 3 days before the deadline is on time; the Board records when it arrived.
The Board assesses fines for late reports and may waive them.

The entries (1)

Quarter ending	Due	Filed	Days late
2022-03-31	2022-04-15	2022-04-18	3

Rule: Quarterly reports filed late

“A political committee shall file quarterly reports no later than the 15th day of the month following each period.”10 ILCS 5/9-10(b) ✓ quoted from the saved copy · how findings work

Campaign money

$16,987,396raised, 8,480 itemized contributions, plus $975,194 in small ones

$151,682from the candidate (incl. loans)

$17,669,722spent

$16,047cash on hand on December 31, 2022; $246,685 in debts

Where their money comes from (besides their own)

92%

IndividualsBusinessesTrade, professional and issue groupsLabor unionsParties and legislative caucusesOther candidates and officeholders

Plus $1,682 of their own money and from their other committees. Compare with all state candidates →

How it was spent: $17,669,722

Other (as described)$9,655,922

TV and streaming ads$2,597,000

Contributions to other committees$900,929

Digital and online$827,406

Consultants and field$811,927

Staff pay$727,654

Mail and literature$638,408

Office, printing and supplies$484,665

Polling$393,474

Travel and meals$250,754

Largest payees: SRCP Media $11,075,839 TV and streaming ads · Cold Spark Media Group $1,779,370 Digital and online · Higher Ground Strategies $555,000 Other (as described) · Illinois Republican Party $474,900 Donations and sponsorships · Tactical Campaigns $373,158 Digital and online · Restore Illinois PAC $210,000 Contributions to other committees · Internal Revenue Service (US Treasury) $159,814 Staff pay · Osage Research $156,370 Polling

Grouped by the purpose each payment lists (“direct mail”, “consulting”), so the groups are approximate; a consultant's payments to others (ads, mail) show under the consultant.

Top contributors	Type	Total
Richard Uihlein Uline · Self Employed · Lake Forrest	Person	$12,025,000
Jean Bailey Retired · Retired · Louisville	Person	$1,012,700
Illinois Republican Party Chicago	Business or group	$462,480.34
Alex Melvin Business owner · Self-employed · Sullivan	Person	$350,100
Gerald Forsythe self employed · self employed · Naples	Person	$200,000
SRCP Media Alexandria	Business or group	$200,000
Restore Illinois PAC Louisville	Committee	$150,100
Kaskaskia Organic, LLC Mattoon	Business or group	$100,000
Jean Speer Retired · Retired · Port Orange	Person	$100,000
Vincent A Kolber OWNER · RESIDCO · Chicago	Person	$50,000
Joan Speer Retired · Retired · Port Orange	Person	$50,000
Vinakom Inc. Schaumburg	Business or group	$50,000
Eloise Gerson Real-Estate · Self Employed · Chicago	Person	$49,850
Mark and Teresa Bocker farmer · Farmer · Polo	Person	$35,000
Rose E Plank Home maker · N/A · Arthur	Person	$30,000

Committee: Bailey for Illinois (every report they filed is on the State Board of Elections' site). Data current as of October 12, 2026.

Their donors also gave to

Their largest donors who also funded other 2022 state candidates.

Donor	To them	Candidates funded
Richard Uihlein Uline, Self Employed · Lake Bluff	$11,025,000	5
Richard Uihlein Owner, Uline · Lake Forest	$1,000,000	13
Illinois Republican Party Party or caucus committee · Chicago	$462,480	49
Gerald Forsythe self employed, self employed · Naples	$200,000	3
Restore Illinois PAC Group or PAC · Louisville	$150,100	10
Vincent A Kolber Founder, RESIDCO · Chicago	$50,000	4
Eloise Gerson Real-Estate, Self Employed · Chicago	$49,850	2
Brad Voyles Nursing home owner, Self Employed · Watson	$24,500	3
Daniel Caulkins State Rep, State Rep · Decatur	$24,000	6
Fred Helmuth Business Owner, Self Employed · Arcola	$22,700	6
Drake Custom Homes Business · Charleston	$20,000	2
Gary Rabine Candidate, Self · Bull Valley	$15,000	4
Anna Herschberger owner, Yoders Kitchen · Arthur	$11,198	2
Fischer Excavating, Inc. Business · Freeport	$10,000	2
Richard Kube Physician, Prairie Spine Institute · Peoria	$10,000	3