National speculation helps ‘get more for the people of Illinois,’
Pritzker says
[June 28, 2025]
By Ben Szalinski
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker began his third campaign for governor on
Thursday, but much of the buzz around his 2026 campaign announcement
focused on 2028.
Pritzker made four stops around the state to launch his campaign,
fielding questions about any future interest in the presidency and what
is driving him to run for what would be a historic third term. In his
final stop in Springfield on Thursday evening, he was toasting
personally branded “JBeers” – his own craft beer product he unveiled at
least year’s Democratic National Convention – with a group of about 100
people at a small event venue just outside the Capitol and talking about
his motivations.
“Every day I’m going to wake up going forward thinking about what I am
going to do that’s going to help the people of Illinois,” Pritzker told
reporters in Springfield when asked how many years of a third term he
would serve. “So that’s the reason I’m running for reelection, it’s why
I announced today, it’s what I’m going to do every day going forward no
matter what decision I make.”
The 60-year-old Democrat’s national profile has grown significantly over
the last year. He was a finalist to be former Vice President Kamala
Harris’ running mate last July, and weeks later, introduced himself to
the country on the stage of the Democratic National Convention in
Chicago. In the months since President Donald Trump took office,
Pritzker has emerged as one of his most vocal critics.
At news conferences throughout the state, Pritzker did not directly
commit to serving a full four-year term if he is reelected and
sidestepped questions about his rumored White House ambitions.
But while staying tight-lipped about what he thinks about his prospects
in the 2028 presidential election, he said any decision he makes about
his future would be Illinois-centric.
Speculation shows Pritzker ‘capable and competent’
In the meantime, Pritzker said he believed his inclusion in the national
conversation is good for Illinois.
“When I ran for governor in the first place in 2017 and 2018, never,
never could I have imagined that anybody would talk about me as the
potential vice-presidential nominee or as a candidate for president of
the United States,” Pritzker said.
While Republicans have frequently criticized the governor for his
tendencies to criticize Trump rather than work with him to Illinois’
benefit, the governor spun his rising national profile as a positive.
“Having the state of Illinois’ leaders viewed as capable and competent
and potentially able to run the entire country and being talked about in
that way, allows us, I think, to get more for the people of Illinois
because there’s an understanding that, you know, maybe in Illinois we’re
doing the right things,” he said. “Maybe in Illinois we have leaders
that can competently execute on what states really need.”
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Gov. JB Pritzker holds a branded craft “JBeer” on stage at a
Springfield campaign kickoff event alongside local state Sen. Doris
Turner. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jade Aubrey)
Pritzker said his experience last summer being vetted for the vice
presidency has not played any role in the decisions he has made about
his political career.
Should Pritzker decide to run for president, an announcement would
likely come at some point in 2027 during what would be the first year of
his third term if he’s reelected.
Pritzker’s goal: ‘Protect’ Illinois and his legacy
Pritzker said at his announcement Thursday that his goal in 2026 is to
preserve his legacy and “protect” the story of Illinois that’s been
written under his leadership. Pritzker didn’t outline a bold vision for
his third term but rather pledged to build off what he has already
accomplished.
He said his third term would focus on grappling with artificial
intelligence, addressing the rising cost of living, continued spending
on infrastructure and growing the state’s economy.
Pritzker reflected on his decision to seek reelection despite growing
challenges facing the state.
“I don’t shy away from a fight, and we’re going to have to protect the
people of Illinois,” Pritzker told reporters in Springfield. “And I feel
like we’re in a moment when backing away from public service when things
are hard doesn’t feel right. So that’s one of the reasons I chose to run
for reelection.”
Pritzker was asked whether he would have run had Trump not been elected
last year.
“I think I would, but I have to say that in this moment, it feels like
walking away is the wrong thing to do given who is in the White House
and given how this administration is attacking people all across this
country,” Pritzker said.
The governor must also choose a new running mate as Lt. Gov. Juliana
Stratton has decided to run for U.S. Senate. Pritzker said he will
choose one by the end of July so his campaign can start circulating
nominating petitions in early August. Pritzker said in Chicago that he
is looking for someone with enough experience to take over as governor
if required.
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, may be an early front-runner for the
job. Pritzker specifically referred to Gordon-Booth as qualified at a
stop in East Peoria on Thursday when asked about potential running
mates, WGLT reported. The assistant House majority leader has been in
the General Assembly since 2009.
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