Meet Darren
A farmer, family man, and fellow rural Illinoisian, Darren Bailey’s conservative roots run deep.
Darren is a third-generation family farmer from rural Southern Illinois who, along with his sons, owns and operates Bailey Family Farm where they grow corn, wheat, and soybeans. It is here on the farm where he learned and passed down the values of hard work and a strong faith to his children.
Darren is grounded in the conservative values of individual liberty, social responsibility, and working hard. He knows that these precious freedoms are threatened every day by big government and powerful career politicians, which is why we need representation in Washington who understands and will fight for our way of life.
Darren is a graduate of North Clay High School and Lake Land College. He and his wife Cindy live by the motto of faith, family, and farming. In 2016, along with running the family farm, they founded Full Armor Christian Academy, a preschool through grade 12 school that gives parents the option of a Christ-centered education for their children. Darren has dedicated countless hours to improving education in Illinois and served 17 years on the North Clay Unit 25 Board of Education in Louisville, including 12 years as President of the Board.
In 2018, Darren was called to serve in government and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives 109th district. There he fought for our freedoms and against tax hikes, reckless spending, and sanctuary state legislation. Darren then served the 55th district in the Illinois State Senate, and with his lifelong background in farming, worked as the lead Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee. As a State Senator, Darren refused a legislative pension and emphasized tax relief for hardworking Illinoisans as a top priority.
Darren has always been a strong advocate for his community and its agricultural roots. He is a member of the Louisville Rotary Club and Illinois Independent Business Federation, as well as the Illinois Wheat Association, National and State Corn Growers Association, National and State Soybean Association, and the Fellowship of Christian Farmers. Darren is also a lifetime member of the Farm Bureau and an alumnus of Future Farmers of America.
An avid outdoorsman, Darren is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. He is a member of the Illinois State Rifle Association, Guns Save Life, and is a Life member of the National Rifle Association.
In his free time, Darren enjoys riding his motorcycle with his wife, Cindy, through beautiful Illinois and is a member of Rolling Thunder Chapter 3.
Darren lives on Bailey Family Farm near Louisville with his wife of 37 years, Cindy. They are the proud parents of four married children and grandparents of twelve grandchildren. Darren and Cindy attend Crossroots Church in Effingham.
