Data Center Record.

Illinois Governor 2026: where the candidates stand on data centers

3 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot, from the Illinois State Board of Elections' list. The officeholder comes first, then the Republican and Democratic nominees together by last name, then everyone else by last name; in each group a candidate with a statement or vote on the record comes first (how the order works). Each has the same space. The list: Illinois State Board of Elections, WEBSITE CANDIDATE LIST, General Election - 11/3/2026 (the Candidate Filing Search's printable list for election id sejIrI+Qmww=) (All Candidates as of 10/9/2026 1:29:53 PM).

Checked · How the record reads leaders · Report a change · Corrections

More on Illinois: the state page · its laws and bills on data centers · its leaders

The candidates

  1. JB Pritzker, Democratic candidate for Governor, Illinois

    JB Pritzker

    Democratic · In office

    Of 16 statements on the record, 2 raised concerns about data centers, 1 was mixed and 13 carry no label.

    What they said

    0 2 1

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    16 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: Courtesy Photo‎ United States Department of Defense, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    JB Pritzker's page · In their own words

  2. Darren Bailey, Republican candidate for Governor, Illinois

    Darren Bailey

    Republican

    As I travel across Illinois, I hear the same concerns: massive data centers are threatening farmland, straining our power grid and driving up costs. My position is clear: Illinois families and communities come first.

    Their newest statement on the record, September 1, 2026, pjstar.com.

    What they said

    2 statements on the record

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    2 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Photo: Cobiblair, CC BY SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped.

    Darren Bailey's page · In their own words

  3. Collin Corbett

    Independent

    Collin Corbett proposed that data centers must bear 100 percent of the cost for their energy and grid infrastructure so they do not drive up electric bills for everyone else

    Their newest statement on the record, September 30, 2026, Shaw Local.

    What they said

    2 statements on the record

    What they did

    No vote on a data center measure on the record.

    2 statements · 0 votes on the record

    Collin Corbett's page · In their own words

Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.

In their own words

Where does JB Pritzker stand on data centers?

Of 16 statements on the record, 2 raised concerns about data centers, 1 was mixed and 13 carry no label.

Statements 16 statements

  1. · paraphrased

    Pritzker says there is disagreement about data center legislation, but he expects a bill to be ready for fall veto session next month.

    The Black Chronicle · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    Illinois Governor Pritzker said every community should decide whether to allow data centers, and Republicans support community decision making on data center locations.

    WAND · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  3. · paraphrased

    Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated lawmakers should pass the POWER Act to regulate data centers, requiring companies to bring clean energy, protect community bills, and use closed loop water systems.

    WAND · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  4. · paraphrased

    Governor Pritzker said he hopes data center regulation legislation under the POWER Act could pass in the Illinois fall veto session despite disagreements

    Chicago Tribune · [Archived Copy] · Full quote, context and sources

  5. · paraphrased

    Governor Pritzker is urging state lawmakers to pass uniform regulations for data centers.

    Effingham Radio · Full quote, context and sources

  6. · paraphrased

    JB Pritzker, governor of Illinois, proposed new restrictions and stringent regulations on data centers

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

  7. · paraphrased

    Pritzker released a comprehensive framework on data center policy earlier this year that ensures Illinois water resources are protected and that noise pollution is minimized

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

  8. · paraphrased

    Governor J.B. Pritzker said he does not have the authority to impose a statewide moratorium on data centers on his own

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

  9. · paraphrased

    Governor Pritzker hopes the state legislature will consider the POWER Act, which requires data centers to pay for infrastructure costs, source clean energy, and follow water use guidelines

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

  10. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Governor JB Pritzker says state lawmakers need to pass data center regulations during veto session.

    wandtv.com · Full quote, context and sources

  11. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    Governor Pritzker said he is not pursuing a moratorium on new data centers in Illinois and cannot impose one unilaterally

    Chicago Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  12. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    POWER Act does not include outright pause on data centers but holds them responsible for energy costs and environmental protections

    Chicago Tribune · Full quote, context and sources

  13. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    CyrusOne secured a tax break before Governor JB Pritzker used executive authority to pause a state program providing deals to developers

    Illinois Times · Full quote, context and sources

  14. · paraphrased · label set by a tiebreak

    JB Pritzker, Illinois Governor, said public concerns about data centers are legitimate and states should set clear conditions for new data centers, requiring developers to provide clean energy and adopt closed loop water recycling.

    finance.biggo.com · Full quote, context and sources

  15. · paraphrased

    Gov. JB Pritzker said Illinois has not pursued massive hyperscale data center campuses like those in Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania

    WGLT · Full quote, context and sources

  16. · paraphrased

    Pritzker said the state should pump brakes on the data center industry rather than roll out the red carpet

    WGLT · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Darren Bailey stand on data centers?

Darren Bailey has 2 statements on data centers on the record.

Statements 2 statements

  1. · quoted

    As I travel across Illinois, I hear the same concerns: massive data centers are threatening farmland, straining our power grid and driving up costs. My position is clear: Illinois families and communities come first.

    pjstar.com · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    Bailey, a Republican challenging Gov. JB Pritzker for his seat, said on social media Monday that he and Trump do not have the same opinion about the advent of data centers.

    pjstar.com · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Where does Collin Corbett stand on data centers?

Collin Corbett has 2 statements on data centers on the record.

Statements 2 statements

  1. · paraphrased

    Collin Corbett proposed that data centers must bear 100 percent of the cost for their energy and grid infrastructure so they do not drive up electric bills for everyone else

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

  2. · paraphrased

    Collin Corbett proposed ending perpetual non disclosure agreements and requiring data center negotiations to occur in full view of the public with mandatory public hearings

    Shaw Local · Full quote, context and sources

Votes 0 votes

No vote on a data center measure on the record.

Candidates and their order come from the Illinois State Board of Elections' list, verified October 9, 2026. Every candidate, by state · How the record reads leaders.

Are you a candidate in this race or on the campaign? Ask for a correction or send a statement, or email corrections@datacenterrecord.org.

Every race in Illinois, and where each candidate stands

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