Darren Bailey

Darren Bailey
From the Illinois Independent Media Network:
"Darren Bailey apparently doesn't like "static."
At least that's how his campaign described anticipated criticism when Bailey decided to attend Morton's Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast.
Bailey was not invited by the Morton Chamber of Commerce or the Pumpkin Festival. The Chamber publicly said it had not invited him, had not chosen to host him, and had no communication with his campaign about his planned attendance. He was attending a public community event as a member of the public.
His campaign nevertheless advertised the breakfast as a Bailey appearance from 7-9 a.m.
Then, on September 6, Bailey's Tazewell County campaign coordinator emailed the Village of Morton saying Bailey wanted to attend and asking:
"Is it possible if we can have some extra security for him? It seems that one of the local businesses in town is going to give us a lot of static."
Morton's FOIA production then contains 12 pages of screenshots from FemmeCare Health & Wellness and Facebook discussions about Bailey's appearance.
And what does this supposed "static" look like?
People saying they planned to attend. People criticizing Bailey's positions. People discussing reproductive healthcare and LGBTQ+ rights. A women's healthcare business asking followers what questions they would like Bailey asked.
The screenshots contain anger and political disagreement. What they do not show is an explicit threat of violence.
That distinction matters.
Bailey wasn't dragged into a hostile event. His campaign chose to advertise his attendance at a public community breakfast where he had not been invited as a featured guest. Then his campaign asked the Village for extra security while pointing to anticipated opposition from a local business.
Candidates running for governor are going to encounter people who disagree with them. They are going to encounter women who want answers about healthcare. They are going to encounter LGBTQ+ people and their families who want answers about policies affecting their lives.
Questions are not a security threat. Dissent is not a security threat. "