Friend,

The Fix Illinois Tour is in full swing, my friends! What a blessing it is to be on this journey alongside my dear husband as he crisscrosses the state to meet more of you. 

They say some people wear many hats in a day, but I wear many shoes—sometimes three different pairs depending on the stops! A typical day on the road has us dashing from parades and festivals to town halls and fundraisers, all before sundown. I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Of course, the highlight of the month was the Illinois State Fair. That 500-pound butter cow was an absolute work of art this year, and all the food was just divine (calories don’t count at the State Fair!)

Be sure to check our calendar to see when we're headed your way. We'd love to meet you and your family❣️

Blessings,

Cindy Bailey

Everywhere we go, we hear the same thing: Illinois is too expensive! Especially when it comes to property taxes.

There was a video making the rounds on Facebook where the owner of Dalton Bowl said he pays a whopping $11,000 in property taxes—more than the bowling alley’s mortgage. And Suburban Cook County recently made the news for property taxes soaring past the rate of inflation. Homeowners there will bear the brunt of the increase because the value of residential properties outpaced commercial real estate values.

There's got to be a better way, and I can promise you my husband is determined to find it! When he's governor, he'll put a temporary halt on rising property taxes across the state by enacting an assessment cap and making sure no family pays more in annual property taxes than they do for their monthly mortgage.

Let's get Darren elected so Illinois can be a place where families grow and thrive for generations to come!

August is fair season, and that means we had the pleasure of witnessing the results of thousands of children’s projects put on display as part of 4-H programs across the state.

Their innovation, dedication and talent are truly inspiring! It is so special to see the culmination of endless hours of hard work pay off. 4-H is a remarkable program for instilling a strong work ethic and the importance of creativity in children at such a young age. Two of our grandchildren had the privilege of being part of this great organization for the first time this year, and their smiles truly speak for themselves! Our future is bright with the children of Illinois.

After a big day on the campaign trail, we found what will probably now be one of my favorite coffee stops! I know I say that every time, but if you’re in the Litchfield area, you really have to stop inside Kismet Coffee Co. Grab a latte and a fresh-out-of-the-oven pastry—you will not regret it! This hidden gem has that WOW factor the minute you lay eyes on it. ✨

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die…”

Ecclesiastes 3:1–2

Over the last month, we celebrated our late son and daughter-in-law’s first birthdays in heaven. I won’t sugarcoat it: These days were a difficult reminder of how desperately they are missed. We spent time sharing stories, laughing through tears, and thanking God for the incredible people they were. Because of Jesus, death does not have the final word! We have the promise of Heaven and the hope of being together again.

It was great catching up with Illinois native Bailey Zimmerman during his recent stop at the Illinois State Fair! Bailey grew up with our son Mason and one of our hardest-working employees, Luke, so it's been incredible to watch his career take off.

He's a staple on my campaign trail playlist—those long hours on the bus go a lot smoother with great music. 🎶 Click here to check out his new song!

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