CHICAGO — Gov. JB Pritzker has solidified his influence in Illinois’ Democratic politics by investing heavily in his chosen Senate candidate’s successful primary campaign on Tuesday.
This victory bolsters Pritzker’s position in his party as he gears up for a November gubernatorial election for a third term and considers a future presidential bid in 2028.
“It’s going to reflect well on him,” commented retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky on Tuesday night, following Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s victory in the Democratic primary for the Illinois Senate.
Illinois House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel remarked, “I think it will show that he has coattails, and that he has a big following, and that people respect his opinions on who to vote for.”
Pritzker is recognized as a powerful governor, using his authority, party backing, and personal wealth to drive policy changes across the state, addressing issues such as energy, cost of living, and infrastructure. With the Democrats’ hold on the state legislature, he has further expanded his influence in Springfield.
Nationally, Pritzker has positioned himself as a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, frequently opposing his immigration enforcement policies and other initiatives.
Pritzker showcased his party leadership in downtown Chicago, celebrating an uncontested gubernatorial primary win, highlighting his achievements, and criticizing Trump, with Illinois Democrats supporting him.
“For working families, the Trump presidency has been an unmitigated disaster. Oil prices are up. Measles is back. Farms are folding. Tariffs have raised the price of groceries and cars, and Illinoisans have been sent abroad to fight another Middle East war,” Pritzker declared to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. “In response, what is the Illinois Republican Party doing to help everyday people? Nothing.”
The crowd’s energy was enhanced by an open bar, a point noted by some attendees, especially as reports emerged that Stratton’s opponent, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, was charging for drinks at his event.
Pritzker, who invested millions in a super PAC supporting Stratton and campaigned alongside her, dismissed concerns that a potential loss for Stratton could damage his image. He also supported Brad Schneider, who secured the Democratic nomination for Illinois’ 10th Congressional District.
At a luncheon at Manny’s Deli before the polls closed, Pritzker said, “I’m not choosing candidates because I’ve taken a poll ahead of time and decided that I can only support a candidate that I know absolutely 100 percent is going to win otherwise. Here’s what I know, when you’ve got somebody that is hyper-qualified for the job, that’s who I’m supporting.”
Later at Stratton’s watch party on Chicago’s West Side, Pritzker, a member of one of the nation’s wealthiest families, acknowledged his personal investment in the election outcome.
“A lot of people have suggested this was personal to me,” he admitted to hundreds of Stratton campaign staff and supporters, his voice showing strain late into the evening. “They were right. It was.”
The Senate primary was marked by significant spending, racial dynamics, and internal party rivalries. Krishnamoorthi possessed a $30 million campaign fund and considerable external support but could not match Pritzker’s financial power and institutional support for Stratton.
Rep. Robin Kelly, who came in third place, faced criticism for potentially splitting the Black vote. She, like Stratton, is Black, raising concerns they might divide the vote, giving Krishnamoorthi an advantage, who ran ads supporting Kelly to boost his position.
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, which supported Kelly, criticized Pritzker’s involvement in the race, accusing him of attempting to “tip the scales in Illinois,” which she described as “beyond frustrating.”
Kelly echoed this sentiment before the polls closed, saying, “He’s put his thumb on the race. Seventy-three percent of her donations came from one family,” referring to Pritzker’s financial backing of Stratton.
The tensions between Pritzker and Kelly date back to a 2022 conflict over control of the Illinois Democratic Party, which led to Kelly’s removal amid concerns about her fundraising capabilities in Congress. Although both sides have publicly downplayed the feud, the Senate primary reignited old disputes, with various groups and Democratic factions supporting different candidates.
Another CBC member, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, commented before the polls closed in Illinois that “it would be a damn shame if Robin Kelly” lost.
“Isn’t it a shame that I don’t have billions of dollars?” Booker remarked. “Look … the way the rules are right now, JB Pritzker as the governor of that state is free to support anybody he wants and he has a tremendous amount of resources. I hold no ill will there.”
Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner, the speaker pro tempore and a member of the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, defended Pritzker’s involvement in the race.
“Political capital is a lot like financial capital, it does not grow because you admire it. It grows because you deploy it,” Buckner stated in an interview. “He’s putting his political equity into circulation, which I think is the right thing for him to do.”
