Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has voiced his frustrations regarding the apparent lack of solidarity among Democrats in standing up to President Trump.
Pritzker has emerged as a prominent figure in the Democratic pushback in recent weeks as the Trump administration sets its sights on Chicago, often labeled a haven for lawlessness, instigating immigration raids under the guise of restoring order.
In a recent interview with The New Republic, he was prompted by a journalist about whether the Democratic Party could amplify its warnings regarding Trump’s increasing authoritarianism.
His candid response was:
Well, don’t you think so? [Chuckles] Sure, there are those who’ve made their voices heard, and they deserve credit for doing so.
I want to commend individuals like Cory Booker, Chris Murphy, and Gavin Newsom for consistently speaking out. However, the silence from many others is puzzling.
This isn’t a wait-and-see scenario; issues are escalating daily.
Living in Chicago, I witness this reality firsthand, but it’s unfolding in places like Portland, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Those are just where the federal troops are involved.
We’re also observing ICE operations in unexpected locales, extending into suburban and rural areas across my state and beyond.
Thus, it baffles me why more leaders have not taken a stand. We shouldn’t limit this to just Democrats—suggesting that “why haven’t Democrats reacted?” seems overly partisan. Honestly, this transcends politics.
This is about the very future of our nation. Do we uphold the principles of a constitutional republic, or do we accept a scenario where the law is dictated by the president—where the dictates of Donald Trump supersede the Constitution of the United States?
This week, Pritzker raised concerns that Trump may resort to military intervention to manipulate the outcome of next year’s midterm elections.
“Next year, there’s a real fear that they will deploy military personnel to polling sites, claiming to protect the voting process,” he warned in an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, known for her penchant for conspiracy theories.
“Trump is acutely aware that without these unconstitutional maneuvers, he risks losing control of Congress,” he added.
JB Pritzker goes full election denier, says Trump will “use the military to confiscate ballot boxes” and steal the midterms pic.twitter.com/qza9dT1RNu
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 7, 2025
Ben Kew is a writer and editor. Originally hailing from the UK, he relocated to the U.S. to report on Congress for Breitbart News. He has since held editorial positions at Human Events, Townhall Media, and Americano Media, and has contributed to The Epoch Times, The Western Journal, and The Spectator.
You can email Ben Kew here, and read more of Ben Kew’s articles here.
