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By Illinois Review
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For much of the 2026 gubernatorial campaign, Ted Dabrowski has been clear and consistent about what he believes is Illinois’ most pressing issue.
Property taxes, Dabrowski has said repeatedly, are the number one issue facing Illinois residents.
While campaigning across the state, Dabrowski described property taxes as voters’ “number-one concern” and made affordability the foundation of his platform. His campaign materials emphasized reducing the tax burden on homeowners, seniors, and working families, arguing that high property taxes are a primary driver of population loss and economic stagnation.
The message aligned closely with his background as a financial policy analyst and longtime critic of government spending.
That focus defined the early phase of his campaign.
However, recent polling suggests the message has not translated into voter support. A WGN-TV poll released recently shows Dabrowski trailing significantly in the Republican primary.
Former state Sen. Darren Bailey, the current frontrunner, leads Dabrowski by a wide margin – 34 percent to 8 percent – a 26-point gap that has raised questions about Dabrowski’s campaign strategy and momentum.
As those numbers became public, the campaign’s messaging began to shift.
Over the weekend, Dabrowski aired a new television advertisement during Saturday night’s Chicago Bears playoff matchup against the Green Bay Packers – one of the most watched and emotionally charged rivalries in professional football. Political strategists estimate the prime-time placement likely cost the campaign approximately $170,000, underscoring both the high stakes of the moment and the urgency behind the messaging change.
The commercial made no mention of property taxes or fiscal reform. Instead, it focused on violent crime and sharply criticized Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker over Illinois’ sanctuary state policies.
The ad featured Joe Abraham, the father of Katie Abraham, who was killed in a drunk-driving crash involving an illegal immigrant, Julio Cucul-Bol. The message argued that sanctuary policies, along with decisions by judges and prosecutors, have increased risks for Illinois families.
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