EFFINGHAM, IL — A second southern Illinois republican has announced his bid to unseat Governor JB Pritzker in next year’s election. Farmer and State Senator Darren Bailey (Xenia) announced Monday that he will seek the Republican nomination for Governor on March 15th, 2022.

Kicking off his campaign with a seven-stop bus tour through Illinois, Bailey spoke to hundreds of supporters in Effingham Monday evening, outlining his plan to reform a state that he says has been broken and abandoned by career politicians who have lost touch with the needs of hardworking Illinoisans. As part of his campaign announcement tour, Bailey has stops planned in Marion, Highland, Bloomington, Utica, Loves Park, and Shorewood through February 24th.

Former State Senator Paul Schimpf (Waterloo) announced his plans to run for the nomination last week.