Former Illinois news anchor **Beni Rae Harmony**, who was suspended earlier this year for delivering an on-air tribute to slain conservative leader **Charlie Kirk**, is back — and this time, she’s not holding back. Appearing at Republican gubernatorial candidate **Darren Bailey’s** 2026 campaign launch, Harmony delivered a fiery, faith-filled endorsement that electrified conservatives and sent a clear message to Illinois’ embattled GOP base: *it’s time for revival.*
Harmony, who resigned from her news position after being punished for what her station called “inappropriate political commentary,” has since become something of a folk hero among Christian conservatives. On stage beside Bailey, she invoked the biblical story of **Esther**, comparing her own moment of conviction to the queen who risked everything to stand up for truth.
“We are witnessing what the Bible said,” Harmony told the roaring crowd. “We are witnessing the evil in our country — and I believe Darren Bailey is the man to lead us through that.”
Harmony’s speech struck deep spiritual chords, blending moral urgency with Midwestern grit. Drawing parallels to Esther’s defining choice between fear and faith, she asked,
“She was at a crossroads. She was battling a choice. When you make a choice, you need to stand in it, be convicted in it, and not give up.”
As the crowd chanted Bailey’s name, Harmony challenged conservatives to rise up and reject the culture of silence that’s smothered truth in Illinois politics.
“Silence or speaking truth — what would you choose?” she asked. “Would you stay silent? Are you going to stand up for what you believe in? Darren reached out to me and said he was praying for me. Does J.B. Pritzker pray for us? Does J.B. Pritzker even know what a Bible is?”
The line drew thunderous applause.
Harmony didn’t stop there. Channeling the spirit of a revival preacher, she called for a spiritual awakening across the state — one rooted in courage, faith, and biblical conviction.
“We need a revival, and it is here,” she declared. “As I look you in the eyes, you were given a voice — the voice that I was suspended for. I want every single one of you to vow that you will use that voice.”
Her endorsement of Bailey was personal and passionate.
“Darren is a man who is led by Christ, and you can see it in every movement that he makes,” she said. “A man not afraid to speak the gospel. Even if Darren is crucified for it, he will not stop until we make Illinois great again.”
Bailey, known for his unapologetically pro-life and pro-freedom positions, stood beside her smiling, visibly moved.
Harmony ended her remarks on a note of unity and defiance:
“I’m so blessed to be here with all of you, and I’m going to be fighting right alongside you. We will make sure Darren becomes our next governor.”
Her words echoed the same faith-driven conviction that cost her her career — when she was suspended after eulogizing Charlie Kirk on live TV.
“Two days ago, I lost a mentor,” she had said on air. “He was the first person who made me believe in myself. There’s a lot going on in our country, but I’ll say one thing — lean on your neighbors. Speak up for what you believe in.”
Now, Beni Rae Harmony is speaking up louder than ever — turning her suspension into a spiritual stand and helping light a fire that just might reshape Illinois politics.
