ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Unity Breakfast
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1382289337262920&set=d41d8cd9
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1382289380596249&set=pb.100064456008493.-2207520000
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1382289363929584&set=pb.100064456008493.-2207520000&type=3
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
ABC7
— Pritzker facing off against Darren Bailey once again in Illinois governor race. Bailey kicks off general election campaign in Naperville, Pritzker turns focus to November.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-primary-election-gov-jb-pritzker-facing-off-darren-bailey-2026-governor-race/18731249/
CBS2
— Bailey seeks to distance himself from Trump, shore up Chicago area support in Illinois governor’s race rematch with Pritzker
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/darren-bailey-jb-pritzker-illinois-governors-race-rematch/
FOX32
— “A different campaign”: Bailey eyes Chicago push after GOP primary win
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/a-different-campaign-bailey-eyes-chicago-push-after-gop-primary-win
— Pritzker, Bailey trade fire as general election begins
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/pritzker-bailey-trade-fire-general-election-begins
WGN RADIO
— Darren Bailey: I plan on earning Chicago’s support
https://wgnradio.com/john-williams/darren-bailey-i-plan-on-earning-chicagos-support/
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Gov. JB Pritzker flexes political muscle through Juliana Stratton’s decisive Senate primary win. The Democratic governor deferred all credit to his longtime running mate herself, but elevating Stratton could prove key to Pritzker’s possible presidential ambitions.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/18/pritzker-stratton-senate-win-endorsement
— Illinois Democrats ran on anti-Trump messaging. Now what? At the moment, Democrats have little power to push back against Trump and his policies, but that didn’t stop candidates from using him as a campaign rallying cry.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2026/03/18/illinois-democrats-ran-anti-trump-ice-messaging-now-what
DAILY HERALD
— ‘People are fed up’: Stratton talks about Trump strategy, impact of two women of color in the Senate
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260318/illinois-state-politics/people-are-fed-up-stratton-talks-about-trump-strategy-impact-of-two-women-of-color-in-the-senate/
— 2 McHenry County Board incumbents trail GOP primary challengers
https://www.dailyherald.com/20260318/local-politics/2-mchenry-county-board-incumbents-trail-gop-primary-challengers/
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Illinois Democrats’ power map shifts after a high-stakes primary night
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/politics-policy/ccb-democrats-power-map-shifts-in-primary-greg-hinz-20260317/
KARE
— James Marter wins Republican nomination for U.S. House in Illinois’ 14th Congressional District
https://www.kare11.com/article/syndication/associatedpress/james-marter-wins-republican-nomination-for-us-house-in-illinois-14th-congressional-district/616-1377c861-2936-4eac-a959-1fa06180bfeb
CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS & WCBU & WQAD
— Bailey says campaign will focus on Chicago area after rough primary night in suburbs. Republicans seeking unity as party seeks to reverse decade of statewide losses.
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs/
https://www.wcbu.org/state-news/2026-03-18/bailey-says-campaign-will-focus-on-chicago-area-after-rough-primary-night-in-suburbs
https://www.wqad.com/article/news/politics/illinois-politics/darren-bailey-says-campaign-focus-chicago-rough-primary-suburbs/526-3fa94cbf-7539-4e5a-bc7d-85d1d00ccca7
WHEATON PATCH
— ‘No Kings’ Protests Planned Along Roosevelt Road In Wheaton. The protests will be part of a nationwide “No Kings” protest on March 28.
https://patch.com/illinois/wheaton/no-kings-protests-planned-along-roosevelt-road-wheaton
CAPITOL FAX
— Afternoon roundup
https://capitolfax.com/2026/03/18/isabel%e2%80%99s-afternoon-roundup-489/
(FROM THE ROUNDUP: The primary candidate with the conduit to the single biggest ILGOP donor of the last decade (a Bailey defector) ditched the event that promised to unite the historically divided state party. Ted Dabrowski skipped the GOP Unity Breakfast Wednesday, according to several people who were in attendance. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Illinois…This morning, the Illinois Republican Party is gathering for a so-called “Unity Breakfast” to rally behind their slate of candidates – the same people who spent months publicly tearing each other apart on the campaign trail and all over social media. Even the top of the ticket has a history. In 2022, Aaron Del Mar ran for lieutenant governor alongside Gary Rabine, and the two ran hard against Darren Bailey – and it’s been messy ever since. Now Del Mar is Bailey’s running mate even though he spent months preparing to run for governor himself and has spent the time since the announcement making fun of his running mate’s accent and discussing his failures campaigning in Cook County. In response, the Democratic Party of Illinois sent a mobile billboard to greet attendees as they arrive at the breakfast. The billboard features the candidates’ own words: Darren Bailey: “Every time [Aaron Del Mar] runs for something, I say, ‘Don’t vote for this guy.’” Aaron Del Mar: “I just don’t think [Darren Bailey’s] a viable candidate.” Rick Heidner: “If I thought Bailey could win, honestly, I wouldn’t have ran.” James Mendrick: “Darren Bailey will not win the general election against Pritzker.” Ted Dabrowski: “Darren Bailey can’t beat Pritzker.” The ILGOP can pose for photos and call it unity all they want, but Illinois voters watched for months as Republican candidates attacked each other’s character, competence, and chances of winning. Here’s a look back at some of the best moments: – Ted Dabrowski: “Darren Bailey can’t beat Pritzker” – Darren Bailey: “Every time [Aaron Del Mar] runs for something, I say, ‘Don’t vote for this guy.’” – Rick Heidner: “If I thought Bailey could win, honestly, I wouldn’t have ran.” – James Mendrick: “Darren Bailey will not win the general election against Pritzker. With Aaron Del Mar as his running mate, he will likely win fewer votes than he did the first time.” – Rick Heidner: Said he would “absolutely not” give money to another candidate if they won the primary. – Rick Heidner: Told Dabrowski he was done with his “crap.” – Darren Bailey: Called Dabrowski “a nice guy polling in single digits.” – Jeanne Ives: “Why is Bailey hiding in his basement?” – Bailey War Room: “Rick is such a biter. Instead of poaching our clips and captions he could save himself the time and drop out.”)
FROM ILLINOIS CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
ILLINOIS REVIEW
— Bailey Crushes Dabrowski, Exposes Proft and Ives as Illinois GOP’s Most Failed Political Operatives in History
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/03/bailey-crushes-dabrowski-exposes-proft-and-ives-as-illinois-gops-most-failed-political-operatives-in-history.html
— Bailey: Tested by Tragedy, Ready to Lead
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/03/opinion-tested-by-tragedy-ready-to-lead.html
— Grassroots Revolt: Conservative Outsider Josh Higgins Crushes ‘No Show’ Norine Hammond in Stunning GOP Primary Upset
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2026/03/grassroots-revolt-conservative-outsider-josh-higgins-crushes-no-show-norine-hammond-in-stunning-gop-primary-upset.html
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-RIGHT SOURCES
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Wokeness is still very much alive at the insufferable Oscars
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4494898/wokeness-very-much-alive-at-insufferable-oscars/
FROM NATIONAL CENTER-LEFT SOURCES
NEW YORK TIMES
— Stratton Calls to ‘Abolish ICE’ After Illinois Primary Win
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/18/us/illinois-election-primary-midterms
NTD
— House Budget Hearing Examines GAO and CBO budget requests
https://www.ntd.com/live-now-house-budget-hearing-examines-government-accountability-and-congressional-budget-offices_1132177.html
GAO
— Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-900720
