Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, the billionaire heir to Hyatt’s hotel fortune, is asking voters for an extended stay in Springfield.
The 60-year-old Democrat declared his candidacy for a third term on June 26, eliminating the possibility of a packed primary to succeed him. Pritzker’s vast reserve of personal wealth and 55% approval rating leave little path for any opponent to topple the incumbent, keeping him on pace to become the second longest-serving governor in Illinois history. This race remains firmly in the Solid Democrat column.
A third term would keep the governor — who has made little secret of his national ambitions — highly visible ahead of a possible 2028 presidential campaign. Pritzker has already dabbled in politics outside his home state by launching Think Big America, an issue-advocacy organization that has spent millions in support of various ballot measures aimed at expanding access to abortion rights. His reelection announcement made extensive mention of Donald Trump, vowing not to let the president “tear down all we’re building in Illinois.”
The governor’s bevy of legislative successes so far include a minimum
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