Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Thursday launched his reelection campaign, seeking a third term in the governor’s mansion amid speculation about a future run for higher office.
“Donald Trump’s made clear he’ll stop at nothing to get his way. I’m not about to stand by and let him tear down all we’re building in Illinois,” Pritzker said in a video message shared to social platform X.
“I’m running for reelection to protect our progress and continue solving the problems we face. I love this state, and it’s the honor of my life to serve as your Governor – to help lead through the most challenging of times and celebrate the most joyful ones together,” he added. “I’m ready for the fight ahead.”
First elected in 2018, Pritzker scored a second term by double-digits in the 2022 midterms. His 2026 reelection bid in the solidly blue state — which does not have term limits for the governorship — doesn’t come as a surprise. But it does come as questions swirl about whether the governor could jump into the 2028 field for president.
The outspoken billionaire Democrat was floated in conversations during the 2024 race as a potential candidate for former Vice President Harris’s No. 2 spot — though she ultimately chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Pritzker’s resistance posture in recent months against President Trump has stoked speculation about his own future political ambitions.
The Illinois governor appeared this month on Capitol Hill for a contentious hearing alongside Walz and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) over their states’ status as sanctuaries for migrants. In April, he called on his fellow Democrats to stop being “a party of do-nothing” and take broader action against Republican moves.
Pritzker doesn’t yet face any prominent GOP challengers in the 2026 race. He’ll also need to pick a new running mate, as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton runs to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D) in the Senate.