Bailey's Comet

I think we saw a continuation of a political comet in our region on Tuesday. The Comet’s name is Darren Bailey. In November, you’ll be able to call him Senator Bailey. The Democrats couldn’t find a candidate to challenge him.

Quite a ride for a farmer who sat on the Louisville school board only a few years ago. He enunciated a conservative message at a time when the incumbent State Representative---David Reis----was voting with Democrats in Springfield…clearly a mistake.

Bailey crushed Reis in the 2018 Republican primary and went on to become a freshman state representative in the 109^th district, which serves this area. When longtime Senator Dale Righter said he was going to retire, Bailey, after only serving in his new role for a few months, decided to throw his hat into the ring.

Not only did he win over 75-percent of the vote, he beat his opponent Jeff Fleming, in his native Wayne County and in Richland county where Fleming has been a lawyer for years.

Additionally, Bailey endorsed Adam Niemerg, a native of Teutopolis, to take his representative seat. Niemerg dispatched Richland County Sherriff Andy Hires in the GOP primary…and he will be the favorite in November...

I’ll say this about Bailey. He is the most accessible public figure in this region. He’s everywhere. He never hedges. His opinions, whether you agree with him or not, are crystal clear. He is polarizing at times…even within his own party.

But after Tuesday night, he is officially a powerful force in local politics.