(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – When former state lawmaker Darren Bailey made his campaign announcement for governor Thursday, he did not mention his primary opponents, nor that there even is a primary. But perhaps this is a message:

“Republicans, this is our moment,” Bailey said in Oak Brook, the third and final stop of the day. “The stakes are too high to fight each other. We must put aside our differences, we must lock arms, and we must fight together, because when we are united, we can’t be stopped.”

In that spirit Bailey has brought on a former foe as running mate, Cook County Republican chairman Aaron Del Mar.

“This campaign is about three things: taxes, opportunity, and affordability,” said Bailey. “Illinois should be a place where families thrive, where businesses grow, and where young people stay to build their future, not run away to other states.”

Du Page County Sheriff Jim Mendrick and former Wirepoints publisher Ted Dabrowski are also running in the Republican primary for governor. Primary election day is March 17.