WASHINGTON (WLS) — A spontaneous endorsement from President Donald Trump jolted the Illinois governor’s race, catching Republican candidate Darren Bailey off-guard and giving Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker a new line of attack, as both candidates weighed in on immigration enforcement, data centers and the Chicago Bears stadium debate.<\/p>\n
Trump, speaking to reporters in Ireland as he prepared to depart, criticized Pritzker as a “disaster as a Governor” and offered praise for Bailey.<\/p>\n
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24\/7. Click here to watch<\/a><\/p>\n “Well I like the candidate from Illinois, he’s a good man,” Trump said. “I’ve already endorsed him: I’m all for Bailey.”<\/p>\n Bailey said the late-night endorsement caught him unaware.<\/p>\n “I was woken last night by my phone ringing many times, letting me know that,” he said.<\/p>\n Bailey welcomed the support but argued the race hinges on state issues.<\/p>\n “Who wouldn’t from the president of the United States? But Craig, here’s what we got to understand: This race for governor is not about this endorsement. This race for governor is about fixing what JB Pritzker has broken for eight years,” Bailey said.<\/p>\n Pritzker quickly seized on the development, noting it was Trump’s third endorsement of Bailey.<\/p>\n “Darren Bailey doesn’t want you to think that he’s a Donald Trump acolyte, but he is. And he can’t run away from his past, and so I think that’s going to haunt him,” Pritzker said.<\/p>\n He pointed to Trump-era immigration enforcement, including “Operation Midway Blitz,” launched a year ago, as unpopular in Illinois.<\/p>\n “Well, people are still afraid. They know that ICE hasn’t gone completely away. They may have diminished their presence, but people are still being detained,” Pritzker said.<\/p>\n Bailey said enforcement should focus on violent offenders.<\/p>\n “Needs to be 100% going after the violent offenders that are here. That’s who we need to be going after right now,” he said.<\/p>\n