Proft-Bailey Collusion Complaint Recommended for Dismissal

Former GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey (right) and conservative political operative Dan Proft are pictured during an April hearing before the Illinois State Board of Elections. A hearing officer has recommended the board dismiss a complaint that the pair illegally colluded in the 2022 election. (Capitol News Illinois photos by Andrew Adams)

An official with the Illinois State Board of Elections is recommending dismissal of a complaint against former Republican State Senator Darren Bailey and a conservative political operative.

Capitol News Illinois reports the complaint alleged Bailey and far-right radio host Dan Proft illegally colluded during Bailey’s 2022 campaign for governor.

Proft supported Bailey’s candidacy through an independent expenditure committee funded by conservative megadonor Richard Uihlein.

But a hearing officer with the state’s elections board says Illinois law is unclear on what constitutes prohibited election coordination. And, he says, evidence in the case didn’t support claims that Proft and Bailey coordinated.

Proft’s ‘People Who Play by the Rules’ PAC created a series of pro-Bailey ads during the 2022 election cycle, even after Bailey refused a 20-million-dollar offer to fire his campaign staff and put Proft in charge.

The Board of Elections is scheduled to make a final decision at its meeting next week.