Collin Corbett, an Independent candidate, is running for Illinois governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican Darren Bailey.

Asked why he is running, Corbett said in our candidate questionnaire: "We feel stuck because our broken political system is grinding Illinois to a halt. Instead of solving problems, it pits us against each other and rewards the most extreme voices instead of the smartest solutions." He said he is "bringing together a mainstream, Independent majority in Illinois, to deliver common sense solutions that make people's lives better."

Candidate information

Party: "Independent," Corbett said in our questionnaire.

Residence: Palatine, Illinois, according to his campaign website.

Education: "High School," Corbett said in our questionnaire.

Family: "Married to Abbey. One son, Theodore Rex (T Rex), expecting a second child, and a rescue dog, Dustin," Corbett said in our questionnaire.

Occupation: "Political strategist and small business owner. Currently on a leave of absence from my companies for this run," Corbett said in our questionnaire.

Previous elected or appointed office: "N/A," Corbett said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Corbett said in our questionnaire that he founded Cor Strategies, EmpowerPolitics and Long9 Studio, "through which I have advanced nearly 1,200 organizations and campaigns throughout the country." BallotReady lists his role at Cor Strategies from 2009 to 2026 and his co-founding of EmpowerPolitics starting in 2025.

Asked what qualifies him, Corbett said: "I pioneered a community engagement process that brings residents, local businesses, and government leaders together to set priorities and decide what level of taxation they prefer."

On the issues

Affordability: Asked about his top priority, Corbett said in our questionnaire: "How unaffordable our state has become is the single biggest issue for working families. … JB Pritzker has made it worse. He's raised taxes and fees at least 57 times since taking office, costing the average Illinoisan over $1,400 a year more in taxes." He said he would improve the cost of living "by finally lowering property taxes, holding state spending in check, providing relief at the pump, bringing down energy costs, reining in unchecked data center growth, reducing health care costs, and building new affordable, quality housing while stabilizing the value of current housing."

Economy: Corbett said in our questionnaire: "In JB Pritzker's Illinois, big out-of-state corporations get tax breaks while local small businesses pay the full weight of our state's oppressive tax and fee burden. I will scale back these giveaways and instead help our small-to-midsize businesses, manufacturers, and family farmers." On his campaign website, he said he would institute "no tax on overtime and no tax on tips."

Education: Corbett said in our questionnaire: "The number of school districts in Illinois that are adequately funded has declined for three consecutive years under JB Pritzker. … No kid's education should be held back because they happen to be born in the wrong zip code." He said he would "ensure the state fulfills its responsibility to fully fund our schools, giving our kids the quality education they deserve while providing relief for overburdened homeowners…"

Data centers: Corbett said in our questionnaire that he would "put in place a state-level framework that ensures data centers are negotiated transparently, protects energy ratepayers, reduces water consumption, delivers real property tax relief, respects neighboring communities, and reforms BIPA."

Public safety: Corbett said in our questionnaire: "I will ensure our communities are safe and people feel safe by holding criminals accountable while rehabilitating offenders so they turn away from a life of crime. … I will protect the improvements made under the SAFE-T Act while increasing detainable offenses and judicial discretion."

Government reform: Corbett said on his campaign website that he would pursue "ending partisan gerrymandering with fair maps, giving voters more choice through open primaries, reducing the power of party bosses through campaign finance reform, and increasing transparency in campaign finances."

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

Candidate responses were collected through a Surround Sound News questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words and have not been independently verified unless noted.