From the campaign of gubernatorial hopeful Darren Bailey:
Louisville, IL – Today, gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor candidate Aaron Del Mar, unveiled their comprehensive “Blueprint for Illinois” during a press conference at the Illinois State Capitol.
This ambitious plan aims to restore accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility to the state government, ensuring it serves the people of Illinois.
“Today, we are presenting the Blueprint for Illinois, a comprehensive plan built on a simple principle: Illinois government must once again work for the people it serves,” Bailey said. “Government has grown larger, more expensive, and more disconnected from everyday life and everyday citizens. The status quo is not sustainable nor is it acceptable.”
One of the key aspects of the Blueprint addresses the burden of property taxes on Illinois residents.
“No family should be required to pay more in property taxes than their mortgage payment,” Bailey said.
The plan calls for capping annual property tax increases and requiring the state to meet its responsibility to fund education fairly, thereby reducing reliance on local property taxes.
Bailey also highlighted the pressing issue of rising utility costs, recounting a recent encounter with a small business owner who was overwhelmed by exorbitant utility bills.
“This summer, I met a small business owner, a woman who runs a local diner,” Bailey said. “It’s the kind of place where regulars know each other by name, where working families grab breakfast before a long day, and where the owner works more hours than anyone else in the building.
In the middle of the summer, she was hit with nearly six thousand dollars in utility costs just to keep her diner open. Not to expand. Not to upgrade. Just to keep the lights on and the grills running.
She told me she did everything right. She budgeted. She planned. She worked harder. And it still wasn’t enough – because the rules were changed on her without transparency or accountability.
That is not a failure of small business owners. That is a failure of Illinois government and JB Pritzker’s policies in particular.”
Aaron Del Mar followed Bailey’s remarks and focused on the need for safety and accountability in communities across Illinois.
“Affordability matters, but families expect more from their government than lower bills,” Del Mar said. “They expect safety, accountability, and a future they can trust.”
Del Mar pointed to recent incidents of violence such as the career criminal who set a woman on fire on a train in Chicago as evidence of a system that often fails to protect the public.
“This is not about politics. It is about public safety,” Del Mar said. “And it is about a system that too often fails to intervene before tragedy strikes.
The Blueprint for Illinois restores a balanced, responsible approach to public safety. It reinforces real consequences for repeat violent offenders, supports law enforcement, expands prevention efforts, and puts victims and their families back at the center of the justice system.
Del Mar said education reform is another cornerstone of the Blueprint.
“Classrooms should focus on education, not political agendas,” Del Mar said. “The Blueprint prioritizes strong instruction in reading, writing, math, science, and civics. It supports parental involvement, gives teachers clear standards and discipline tools, and ensures fairness and integrity in school activities. Strong schools build strong communities.”
The Blueprint also addresses transparency and accountability in government.
“When government is transparent, trust can begin to return,” Del Mar said. “Under a Bailey/Del Mar Administration, I will lead the DOGE efforts and work towards the reforms we need to restore trust in our government and our institutions – a trust JB Pritzker has squandered through his continued mismanagement of our state.”
Learn more at BliuePrintForIllinois.com.
