Ted Dabrowski pitches his candidacy for governor as his primary opponents – video gambling mogul Rick Heidner, former state Sen. Darren Bailey and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick – listen during a forum sponsored by the Tazewell County Republican Party on Jan. 15, 2026. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Brenden Moore)
Four Republican candidates for Illinois governor—Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick—shared a stage for the first time at a central Illinois forum last Thursday in Tazwell County, largely avoiding attacks and urging party unity ahead of early voting and the March 18 primary.
The candidates argued Republicans must improve performance in Cook County and the suburbs to end a decade-long statewide losing streak. Dabrowski questioned Bailey’s suburban appeal after Bailey’s 2022 loss to Gov. JB Pritzker, while Mendrick pointed to winning countywide in DuPage as evidence he can compete in the Chicago area.
Cost of living and property taxes dominated their pitch, with broad calls for tax caps and tougher crime policies, including repealing the SAFE-T Act. All four also called for ending Illinois’ “sanctuary” approach, backing repeal of the TRUST Act and criticizing state spending tied to immigrant health care and the migrant response.
One of the night’s sharper moments came when Dabrowski challenged Heidner over past donations to prominent Democrats, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx; Heidner called the Foxx donation a “huge mistake.”
Earlier the same day, a group of current and former central Illinois GOP lawmakers endorsed Dabrowski, arguing he’s best positioned to build statewide support and compete financially against Pritzker.