Democrat J.B. Pritzker will serve a third term as Illinois governor after defeating Republican Darren Bailey on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in a rematch of their 2022 contest.

The Associated Press declared Pritzker the winner at about 7 p.m. Central time, moments after Illinois polls closed, according to the Chicago Tribune. Independent Collin Corbett was also on the ballot.

Pritzker is the first Democrat elected to three terms as Illinois governor, according to WAND-TV. The last three-term governor was Republican James R. Thompson, who served four terms from 1977 to 1991.

Strong turnout in Lake County

Lake County voters turned out in force. By early Tuesday afternoon, nearly 180,000 people had voted across the county, pushing total turnout past 38% when early voting and mail ballots were included, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Election judges at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest said the pace rivaled past presidential contests. Jennifer Leventhal, a judge at the Gorton Center, told the Tribune the morning rush was "as busy as a presidential election."

Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega said he was pleased after visiting polling places throughout the county.

Lake Forest and Lake Bluff voters weighed in on the governor's race alongside contests for U.S. Senate, the 10th Congressional District, Lake County sheriff and Lake Forest alderperson seats in Wards 1 through 4, according to the Lake County Clerk's election page. A proposed 1 percent county sales tax for school facilities, school resource officers and mental health professionals was also on the ballot, according to Patch.

The rematch

Pritzker defeated Bailey in 2022 by nearly 13 percentage points, according to WGN-TV's voter guide. This time, Bailey ran with far less money.

Pritzker spent nearly $23.8 million from July through September, compared with about $941,000 by Bailey's committee, according to MultiState. Pritzker entered October with about $44.4 million on hand to Bailey's $482,000.

A key factor: Lake Forest billionaire Richard Uihlein, who backed Bailey's 2022 campaign, gave only $6,900 this cycle, Capitol News Illinois reported. The Chicago Tribune reported that Uihlein had helped fuel Bailey's first bid with more than $50 million.

What shaped the race

Affordability dominated the final stretch. Bailey pointed to property taxes and the cost of living as central issues. Pritzker cited raising the state minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 an hour and ending the state grocery tax, ABC 7 reported.

The two clashed over the SAFE-T Act, the 2021 law that eliminated cash bail, during their only debate Oct. 13 on WTTW, Capitol News Illinois reported. Bailey campaigned on repealing the law. Other debate topics included state spending, a new Bears stadium and data centers.

President Donald Trump endorsed Bailey in September, according to WGN-TV. The endorsement gave Pritzker a line of attack in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans, according to Axios Chicago.

What's next

Christian Mitchell, a former state representative who has served as a deputy governor since 2019, will become lieutenant governor, according to CBS News Chicago. Mitchell replaced Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on the ticket after Stratton entered the U.S. Senate race.

Pritzker is considered a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, according to WAND-TV, though he has given no indication he plans to seek it.