Results

‹ ›

At G Ratings, we conducted a statewide public opinion survey to measure electoral preferences and the political climate ahead of the 2026 Illinois Governor General Election.

We surveyed adults aged 18 and older residing in Illinois who confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

In this study, we present the latest findings on voter preference, political affiliation, the main issues facing Illinois, and the demographic profile of respondents.

The results show JB Pritzker leading the race with 52.7%, followed by Darren Bailey with 33.8%.

General Election Preference for Governor

If the 2026 gubernatorial election in Illinois were held today, respondents expressed the following voting preferences:

1. JB Pritzker: 52.7%
2. Darren Bailey: 33.8%
3. Undecided: 5.2%
4. Collin Corbett: 4.2%
5. Other or None: 4.1%

The results indicate that JB Pritzker holds a strong early advantage in the Illinois governor race, while Darren Bailey appears as the main challenger among the listed candidates.

Political Affiliation of Respondents

At G Ratings, we also measured the political affiliation of survey participants. The results show a Democratic-leaning electorate, followed by Republican and independent or other voters.

1. Democratic affiliation: 48.2%
2. Republican affiliation: 26.8%
3. Independent or other affiliation: 25.0%

This distribution provides context for understanding voter preferences and the broader political environment in Illinois ahead of the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Main Issues Facing Illinois

We surveyed respondents about what they consider the most important issue facing Illinois today. The results show that the economy is the leading concern by a wide margin.

1. Economy, jobs, inflation, and taxes: 39.2%
2. Crime: 13.8%
3. Healthcare: 10.5%
4. Immigration: 9.1%
5. State of democracy: 8.4%
6. Education: 6.8%
7. Something else: 6.5%
8. Abortion access: 5.7%

The findings suggest that economic pressure, public safety, healthcare, and immigration are shaping voter priorities as Illinois moves closer to the 2026 gubernatorial election.

Demographic Profile of the Survey

The survey included a demographic profile across gender, age, and ethnicity.

By gender, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. Male: 48.5%
2. Female: 48.2%
3. Other: 3.3%

By age group, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. 18–29 years: 11.8%
2. 30–39 years: 17.5%
3. 40–49 years: 18.9%
4. 50–59 years: 27.2%
5. 60–69 years: 19.6%
6. 70 years or older: 5.0%

By ethnicity, the survey recorded the following composition:

1. White or Caucasian: 62.5%
2. Black or African American: 14.2%
3. Hispanic or Latino of any race: 13.8%
4. Asian: 5.1%
5. Other or multiple races: 4.4%

Methodology

At G Ratings, we conducted this survey among 850 complete questionnaires from adults aged 18 and older residing in Illinois.

Fieldwork was conducted between July 1 and July 5, 2026. During this period, participants confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

The study used a non-probability sample design, balanced by relevant demographic and geographic variables, including gender, age group, region, education level, and ethnicity.

This process employed Odysseus, a technological platform developed by G Ratings by GobernArte S.C., incorporating algorithmic models designed to ensure a distribution consistent with reference population parameters.

Data collection was conducted through self-administered digital questionnaires accessible on mobile devices and computers. The survey was administered in English.

For a sample size of 850 questionnaires, the theoretical margin of error is estimated between ±3.5% and ±5%, assuming a 95% confidence level and simple random sampling. Because this study uses a non-probability design, the margin of error should be interpreted as an approximate statistical reference rather than an exact estimate of total study error.

The completion rate was approximately 50%, based on eligible individuals who initiated the digital questionnaire.

G Ratings adhered to current United States legislation regarding the protection, privacy, and confidentiality of personal data. All information provided by participants was treated anonymously and used exclusively for statistical research and public opinion analysis.

This survey was commissioned, conducted, funded, and analyzed by G Ratings, a company incorporated in the state of Florida, USA, solely for informational purposes and was neither commissioned nor funded by any pre-candidate, candidate, political campaign, or political party.