East Central Reporter

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate and Senator Darren Bailey is on tour after being in the headlines for controversial comments, even defending one during a debate with incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“Fired up crowds in Springfield, Litchfield and Belleville yesterday as we kicked off our Get Out The Vote Bus Tour,” Bailey wrote on Facebook.

Bailey got endorsed by the twice impeached 45th United States President. The former president just got subpoenaed by the Select Committee to investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol after presenting months of testimony, recordings and footage.

The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund recently announced their preferred and endorsed candidates for the Nov. 8 election - and Republican Darren Bailey is their preferred candidate for Governor according to an emailed news release.

Bailey was under criticism after he made a controversial comment after the mass shooting event during a Forth of July parade in Highland Park, after saying to “move on” as the shooter was at large at the time. He later apologized.

“Friends, let’s pray for the law enforcement and even the organizers of this parade. They’ve done an amazing job,” Bailey said during a now deleted Facebook Livestream. “There’s a lot of confusion and frustration that the parade’s been canceled but they did the right thing because people’s safety has got to come first.”

Bailey and his Lt. Governor, Stephanie Trussell, aren't new to the bus tour concept. In September, they also had a short tour. "Hey friends! We kick off our September Bus Tour TOMORROW! Mark your calendars for a stop coming up near you. #restoreillinois #firepritzker" Bailey said in the Facebook post.

Bailey said another controversial comment in a leaked Facebook video, comparing the approximately six million dead Jews to abortions.

“The attempted extermination of the Jews of World War II doesn’t even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion since its legalization,” Bailey said in the leaked video, Jewish publication Forward reported. “The Jewish community themselves have told me that I’m right,” Bailey said. “All the people at the Chabads that we met with and the Jewish rabbis they said, ‘No, you’re actually right.’”

Forward also reported Bailey defended the above comment.

He challenged Pritzker in August after noting the Governor's bus had a Tennessee plate. Bailey posted an image of a bus on his Facebook and called out the governor. "The trust fund billionaire who removed his toilets to avoid paying taxes is now picking up a campaign bus in Tennessee to avoid paying higher taxes and fees," Bailey said. "Don’t worry, Pritzker, when we win, we’ll fight to lower costs so you can support Illinois businesses again." Pritzker asked to have five toilets removed from his home in the Gold Coast mansion incident in order to reduce the property's worth from $6.25 million to $1.1 million and avoid paying taxes. Pritzker has a net worth of $3.6 billion, Chambana Sun reported.