Bailey wins GOP primary, setting up Pritzker rematch

Why it matters: Republicans are once again betting on a downstate conservative to take on a well-funded Democratic incumbent in a deep-blue state.

By the numbers: Bailey cruised with 50% of the vote by the time the Associated Press called the race. Ted Dabrowski logged 31.7%.

Zoom in: Bailey, a farmer and former state lawmaker, is running with Cook County Republican Aaron Del Mar as his chosen lieutenant governor.

• He used the primary to hammer Pritzker on taxes and crime, portraying the governor as weak on public safety.

The intrigue: Bailey's campaign nearly ended before it began after the tragic loss of several family members in a Montana helicopter crash.

Zoom out: Bailey largely avoided Chicago during the primary, a city he repeatedly criticized in 2022.

• Chicago voters overwhelmingly backed Pritzker in that race, fueling his landslide win.

• This time, watch Del Mar to help soften the ticket's tone as Republicans try to compete in suburban Cook County.

Between the lines: Pritzker, as incumbent and head of the state Democratic Party, enters the race with a massive financial advantage.

• Bailey, meanwhile, lacked backing this cycle from big Republican donors like Richard Uihlein and President Donald Trump, who did not endorse a candidate.

The bottom line: Bailey is betting the political environment has shifted, but he'll need a very different coalition than in 2022 to make this race competitive.