A new poll of likely Republican primary voters shows Aurora mayor Richard Irvin is in deep trouble in his quest for the GOP nomination for governor.
According to a new Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Poll, downstate farmer and state senator Darren Bailey has opened a 15-percentage-point lead over Irvin less than three weeks before the Illinois primary.
The survey, undertaken by Public Policy Polling, showed that 32% of respondents said they’d vote for Bailey if the primary were held this past week, compared to only 17% for Irvin.
The results, if accurate, suggest a candidacy in free-fall, despite enormous financial backing from Illinois billionaire hedge fund manager Peter Griffin, who pledged $50 million to Irvin’s campaign.
Irvin’s troubles seem to show the downside of being the frontrunner. Irvin has been under relentless attack not only from his primary rivals but also the Democratic Governors Association, a Pritzker-backed Democratic PAC, and dark money groups. Many of those attacks focus on recurring pay-to-play allegations arising from Irvin’s time as mayor of Aurora.
The timing of the poll is welcome news for Bailey, a conservative farmer from rural southern Illinois and first-term state senator, as he is about to embark on a 14-day, 102-county bus tour of Illinois as one last push before the June 28 primary.
The only other candidate to hit double digits in the Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Poll was venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, who registered at 11%.
