McCloy touts Bailey internship surge, says youth are ‘stepping up to be part of the fight’
The Darren Bailey-Aaron Del Mar gubernatorial campaign is launching a summer internship push aimed at mobilizing young conservatives in Illinois, as Republicans look to build on recent gains with younger voters and expand grassroots organizing ahead of the 2026 election.
Concerned Parents of Illinois founder Kristina McCloy, who will lead a Bailey campaign internship program in DuPage County, said participants are mobilizing against what she described as Governor J.B. Pritzker’s “Marxist agenda.”
“In the 2024 election, Republicans saw their strongest performance with voters under 30 in any presidential race since 2004, with young voters shifting 9 points more Republican than in 2020,” McCloy told the DuPage Policy Journal. “That momentum is continuing here in Illinois, where we are seeing a growing number of college students and recent high school graduates flocking to the conservative movement, energized by the opportunity to help shape our state’s future.”
The Bailey for Illinois campaign is recruiting college students, recent high school graduates and young adults for summer volunteer internships, pitching the program as a chance to gain political experience, build resumes and potentially earn college credit. Campaign materials promote leadership development, networking and hands-on political involvement while noting that summer outreach positions are limited and that students should consult their schools regarding credit eligibility.
McCloy said the program is designed to give young conservatives hands-on political experience.
“Working alongside myself and the Bailey campaign, these young leaders are gaining firsthand experience in grassroots organizing, community outreach, and civic engagement while standing up to Governor JB Pritzker’s Marxist agenda that they know will hurt their futures,” she said.
According to the Bailey campaign’s online application, interns may pursue paid, unpaid or school-credit positions. Available roles include grassroots outreach, social media, events, communications, data entry and flexible support positions. Applicants are asked to provide contact information, social media usernames and preferred areas of involvement through the campaign website at baileyforillinois.com/INTERN.
McCloy said the initiative extends beyond short-term campaign work.
“This is far more than an internship, it’s a mentorship pipeline for the next generation of conservative leadership in Illinois, and we’re proud to see so many young people stepping up to be part of the fight,” she said.
The Bailey-Del Mar gubernatorial ticket is set for a rematch against incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the Nov. 3 general election as Pritzker seeks a third term.
During the Republican primary, the Bailey-Del Mar campaign emphasized issues including taxes, government spending, crime and population loss while adopting Chicago-focused messaging intended to expand support beyond Bailey’s traditional downstate base. Del Mar, a former Cook County GOP chair and Illinois Republican Party co-chair, is viewed by supporters as adding suburban appeal and organizational strength to the ticket.
The campaign now turns to the general election, where Bailey is expected to emphasize voter dissatisfaction, grassroots Republican support and efforts to consolidate voters who backed President Donald Trump in 2024.
Trump received 2,449,079 votes in Illinois in the 2024 presidential election, about 195,000 more than Pritzker received in the 2022 governor’s race, according to election results.
Prediction markets currently favor Democrats in the race, giving the party roughly a 93% chance of winning compared with about 8% for Republicans.
A Bailey for Illinois flyer promotes summer internships and volunteer opportunities for students and young adults as the Republican gubernatorial campaign builds support ahead of November. (InstaGram / Concerned Parents of Illinois)