Chicago, IL — New reporting from the Chicago Tribune found numerous attempts by Darren Bailey’s campaign to illegally hold fundraisers on legislative session days, including at least one event that took place while the General Assembly was in session, in violation of a state law Bailey himself voted to enact.
When confronted, his campaign spokesperson didn’t deny violating state law. Instead, the Bailey campaign brushed it off, arguing that the law isn’t even enforced.
In response, the Democratic Party of Illinois released the following statement:
“It’s ironic, though not surprising, that a candidate who has made ‘law and order’ central to his political brand is willing to ignore laws when they become inconvenient for his campaign. Darren Bailey has repeatedly shifted positions and changed his messaging based on his audience, and now he has to answer about whether the same applies to following the law.
“Illinoisians deserve to know why his own principles – and his own legislative record – do not apply when his campaign is involved. Darren Bailey is too extreme, too compromised, and too willing to break the law to be governor.”
According to the Chicago Tribune, Bailey held a fundraiser on a day when the legislature was in session despite a law prohibiting candidates for statewide office from holding campaign fundraisers on a session day. The event required a minimum $100 contribution and directed supporters to contribute through the Bailey for Illinois campaign committee.
The Tribune reported that the campaign spokesperson “did not respond to a follow-up question on whether Bailey — a southern Illinois conservative who’s made law-and-order messaging central to both his statewide campaigns — holds the position that it’s OK to disregard laws that aren’t being enforced.”
This followed an earlier Tribune story that led to the postponement of a separate Bailey fundraiser after media inquiries. That event featured a $500-per-plate dinner and similarly stated that net proceeds would benefit Bailey for Illinois.
