Pritzker wins unopposed while Bailey leads GOP governor race and LaMoille voters back school deactivation
Incumbent Governor JB Pritzker won the Illinois Democratic primary unopposed. Darren Bailey secured the Republican nomination for governor. LaMoille voters supported deactivating their high school.

Voters fill ballots in voting booth on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at the Ottawa Lions Club.
TL;DR
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker secured the Democratic nomination unopposed, setting the stage for his general election bid, while Darren Bailey emerged as the Republican frontrunner for governor. Separately, LaMoille voters decisively backed a proposal to deactivate their local high school.
Context The Illinois State Board of Elections recently released the final vote totals from the state's primary elections. These results determined the candidates who will appear on the November general election ballot for various offices, including statewide positions, judicial seats, and statehouse and county-level roles.
Key Facts Incumbent Governor JB Pritzker, a Democrat, faced no opposition in his party's primary. He received 1,197,587 votes, securing 100% of the Democratic ballots cast for governor. This outcome places him directly onto the general election ballot without a primary contest.
On the Republican side, Darren Bailey claimed the gubernatorial nomination. Bailey garnered 304,162 votes, representing 53.28% of the total Republican primary votes. His victory positioned him as the clear leader in a field that included Ted Dabrowski, who received 165,229 votes (28.94%), and James Mendrick, who earned 54,599 votes (9.56%).
In LaMoille Community Unit School District 303, a non-binding referendum on high school deactivation saw strong voter participation. The proposal to deactivate the high school received support from 75.87% of voters, equating to 327 individual ballots. This local measure provides a clear indication of community sentiment.
What It Means Pritzker's unopposed primary win allows him to focus entirely on the general election campaign as he seeks a second term. Bailey's commanding victory, meanwhile, establishes him as the Republican party's challenger for the state's top executive office. These results now set the primary contenders for the November contest.
The non-binding LaMoille referendum, while not legally requiring action, signals a distinct preference from the community. Local officials in School District 303 now possess a clear understanding of voter opinion regarding the high school's future. The implications of this vote will inform subsequent discussions and decisions within the district.
What to Watch Next The political focus now shifts to the general election, where the contest between Pritzker and Bailey for governor will unfold. Concurrently, LaMoille school officials will consider the significant voter support for high school deactivation as they plan future steps for the district.
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