Bailey Campaign Tied To Hinsdale Woman Who Bashed Blacks, 'Mexican Parades'

HINSDALE, IL – A Hinsdale woman who has criticized Black people, Muslims, the LGBTQ community and "Mexican parades" could have been the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor.

Kristina McCloy, who founded the conservative Concerned Parents of Illinois, introduced Republican lieutenant governor candidate Aaron Del Mar during a campaign launch event last fall in Oak Brook. It was for Del Mar and GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey, who chose Del Mar.

During the event, McCloy, a former Republican Downers Grove Township trustee, introduced Del Mar.

After reaching the podium, Del Mar called McCloy "a woman of integrity, courage and deep conviction."

"Kristina stood ready to run alongside me when I was preparing to launch my own campaign for governor," Del Mar said, adding that he shares her values.

Afterward, McCloy said it was a pleasure to speak at the Bailey-Del Mar event.

"When Aaron Del Mar explored a run for governor, he asked me to be his running mate, and I was truly honored," she wrote on the Concerned Parents social media page.

More than a week ago, Patch asked McCloy about her past statements and her ties to the Bailey campaign.

In response, McCloy said she had retained legal counsel in the matter.

She also sent a link to a piece in the conservative DuPage County Policy Journal that she published after she received the Patch inquiry.

In it, McCloy lays out a case that she says shows that the local Patch reporter is biased against conservatives.

Del Mar and the Bailey campaign did not return messages for comment over the last week.

'Mexican parades'

In 2024, McCloy asserted on the Concerned Parents' Facebook page that schools are hiding the issue of African American children attacking white children.

"Black children on white children attacks are frequently trending on social media," McCloy said. "Schools, parents and towns have been downplaying and even hiding it."

She said some are scared to be at the forefront of the issue for fear of being labeled a racist.

Lately, she has been criticizing Greg Hart, who became Hinsdale's village president last year. He is a former Republican member of the DuPage County Board.

On her Concerned Parents social media page, McCloy criticized Hart for "participation in LGBTQ community events, Mexican parades, Muslim events, public support for (Black Lives Matter), publicly complimenting the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and thanking Joe Biden for his service."

'Illegal aliens'

In a DuPage Policy Journal piece, she also said Hart has not been aggressive enough in opposing Gov. J.B. Pritizer's housing proposal, known as the BUILD Act, which would reduce local zoning powers. (Hart said on social media that he has let legislators and regional leaders know that Hinsdale opposes less local control. That effort has included his visiting Springfield, he said.)

McCloy said Pritzker's proposal would open the door to "increased Section 8 affordable housing" and more crime. As for crime, she said a Hinsdale robbery suspect did not speak English and lives in an area with a lot of Section 8 housing full of "illegal aliens."

Also in the DuPage Policy Journal, she denounced Hinsdale Republican Kari Galassi, a District 3 member of the DuPage County Board. She said Galassi backed giving money for Section 8 housing, the social services arm of the Islamic Circle of North America and "illegal alien assistance."

McCloy also posted a photo of Galassi wearing a headscarf while attending a Muslim community event, an appearance that McCloy said brought Galassi accusations of political pandering.

On social media, McCloy posted a meme saying that no foreign-born people should hold powerful elected positions in the United States. She was referring to a President Joe Biden-appointed federal judge, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago.

As it turns out, President Donald Trump appointed at least one foreign-born judge, James Ho, who is from Taiwan. At one point, Ho was under consideration for the Supreme Court.

'Won't apologize'

Recently, Village President Greg Hart responded on social media to McCloy's criticism. He said he would work with Republicans, Democrats and independents whenever it advances Hinsdale.

"I won't apologize for believing our community should be welcoming, safe and full of opportunity for every law-abiding resident," he said.

Hart also pointed to McCloy's passage about Mexican parades, Muslim events, LGBTQ functions and the NAACP.

"In reading this op-ed, it seems like the views of the Concerned Parents founder belong in 1826," he said. "I'll keep governing in 2026."

In a social media response, Galassi said McCloy, whom she did not name, was criticizing her service for something she considers a strength – working with people of different perspectives to get things done.

She said she invited McCloy to meet for "a respectful conversation to discuss our differences."

"Unfortunately, those invitations have been repeatedly denied," Galassi said.

'Certified young racist'

Among those responding to Galassi was Hinsdale conservative Jeff Waters, a member of the Hinsdale High School District 86 board.

"That commentary is gum on your shoes, Kari – long on criticism and short on solutions," Waters said. "Keep being you, KG. Since you stepped up to serve your friends and neighbors, the community has benefited greatly. Those who throw stones without ever picking up a shovel contribute zero, zilch, nada. And that's no mystery to anyone."

In June, Zoe Marsh-Leigh, who is an African American conservative from Chicago, called McCloy "a certified young racist." She applied the same label to Del Mar.

She pointed to Patch's 2024 story about McCloy's warning of black children attacking white ones.

"Black Chicago, we're going to have to sit this out until Del Mar voluntarily withdraws," Marsh-Leigh said on social media.

Marsh-Leigh is a co-founder of Chicago Flips Red, which supports GOP candidates.