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Republicans’ chances of beating JB Pritzker in Illinois, according to polls

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Republicans’ chances of beating JB Pritzker in Illinois, according to polls


A new poll of Illinois voters has found that Democratic Governor JB Pritzker still holds the lead over his potential Republican rival in next year’s gubernatorial election, despite his approval rating dipping.

In a survey of more than 1,200 likely Illinois voters, carried out between November 20 and 25 and seen by Fox 32, Chicago-based Victory Research put Pritzker at 54.3 percent of the vote, compared to 34 percent for GOP candidate Darren Bailey.

Newsweek reached out to Pritzker and Bailey’s campaigns, as well as Victory Research, via email Tuesday morning for comment.

Why It Matters

Pritzker has become one of the leading Democrats trying to stand up to President Donald Trump and his immigration policies, which in turn has meant the Republican has attacked the Illinois governor over his record on crime, particularly in Chicago.

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First elected in 2019, Pritzker is hoping for a third term as governor, and next year’s election will fall on the same day as the midterms—a key test for the Trump administration and the Republican Party’s grip on Congress.

What To Know

When voters were asked to pit Pritzker against his potential Republican rivals, Victory Research noted he did well, including the lead over Bailey, a former state senator whom he defeated in 2022.

Other names on the GOP list were less well known, including DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick; policy expert Ted Dabrowski; and Rick Heidner, a real estate developer.

While name recognition appeared to be on Pritzker’s side in the poll, there were some policy areas which caused concern among the voters surveyed, including crime, taxation, and immigration.

On crime, Pritzker received a 34.1 percent good rating, compared to 58.9 percent of voters saying he was doing a bad job. When it came to immigration—a key issue the current governor has been vocal on—he received a 36.3 percent positive rating, compared to 57 percent bad.

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Overall, 59.5 percent of those polled felt Illinois was on the wrong track.

For Bailey, who recently took time off from his campaign to grieve the loss of his son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in a helicopter crash, he recently told the Chicago Tribune that he feels confident in his chances going into next year’s election, having learned lessons from his 2022 campaign.

One such lesson was the pushback he got from calling Chicago a “hellhole” three years ago, saying he understood the city had its problems, but that Chicagoans were proud of their city—one which has been a focal point for Trump’s immigration crackdown in recent months.

Pritzker, meanwhile, had focused on the impact of Trump’s policies on his state, including rising grocery prices and health care costs, while also appearing alongside those protesting the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago and surrounding towns.

What People Are Saying

JB Pritzker, on X November 20: “You shouldn’t be burdened with financial uncertainty just because you got sick. While the Trump administration is causing chaos and making health care unaffordable for working families, in Illinois, we are working to ease the financial burden for the most vulnerable.”

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Darren Bailey, speaking to the Chicago Tribune December 1 on Trump’s agenda: “I believe that in the next nine months, I personally believe that we’re going to see some of this stuff make sense. I mean, right now in Illinois, I point my fingers solidly at JB Pritzker and I have to ask: Why? Why the gas tax (increasing every year)? Why? Just why the continued spending? Why, every time there is a problem, we never address the problem?”

What’s Next

The Illinois primary day is scheduled for March 17, 2026, for both parties. Election day itself will be November 3, 2026.



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Cash App parent company agrees to $45 million settlement with Illinois, 44 other states

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Cash App parent company agrees to  million settlement with Illinois, 44 other states


Illinois will get $1.1 million of a $45 million, 45-state settlement with money transfer app Cash App’s parent company, which was accused of misleading customers about the app’s security.

Block Inc. will face $55 million in civil penalties and also have to pay customers nationwide somewhere from $75 million to $120 million as part of the settlement, which includes the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

In a statement, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the settlement holds the company accountable and requires it to “change its harmful practices.”

“Block told Cash App users their money was safe and falsely implied that the app worked like a bank, with the same protections,” Raoul said. “Block was aware that fraud on its platform was rising sharply and failed to warn users, strengthen protections or provide real help to users when things went wrong.”

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A company spokesperson confirmed the settlement and said the company has made “significant investments in consumer protection, customer service, and compliance.”

“We share the commitment of the attorneys general to addressing industry challenges and continue to invest in operations and technology to promote a safe and healthy financial ecosystem,” the spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Sun-Times Wednesday night.

The lawsuit accused the company of not preventing fraud, and even of having systems that made it easier to commit that fraud. Minimal identity verification allowed someone to create fake or multiple accounts, and the company had no phone support line. Instead, customers who had been defrauded often were provided by those fraudsters with fake online customer support phone numbers, the suit alleged.

As part of the agreement, the company must offer at least 13.5 hours of human-staffed phone lines per day as part of 24-hour support, as well as reimburse customers for fraudulent transactions, stop marketing the app as safe and educate users about the dangers of fraud.



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Illinois girl, 8, dies after being struck by lightning

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Illinois girl, 8, dies after being struck by lightning


An 8-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while outside in the backyard of her home in LaSalle County over the Fourth of July weekend.

Girl killed by lightning strike

What we know:

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The LaSalle County Coroner’s office said it was called to emergency department at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa on the evening of July 3 after the child was brought in following the lightning strike.

A forensic autopsy was conducted on Sunday. Preliminary findings determined the girl died from injuries caused by the lightning strike.

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What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet released the child’s identity.

The incident remains under investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Source: The information in this report came from the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.

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Lake Geneva boat accident, 3 kids drowned; Illinois school district responds

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Lake Geneva boat accident, 3 kids drowned; Illinois school district responds


We’re learning more about the victims in Friday’s tragedy on Geneva Lake.

Three kids, ages 10, seven, and six, were killed after they were trapped in the sinking boat during the severe storms.

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Officials won’t comment on their identities, but FOX6 learned at least two of them were students at the Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200) in Wheaton, Illinois.

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The district released a statement, saying:

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“On behalf of Community Unit School District 200, our deepest condolences are with the family and friends of the children who died in a tragic boating incident in Lake Geneva on July 3. We ask that you join us in supporting these families during this difficult time, and keep them in your thoughts as we all cope with this incredible loss.”

Lake Geneva Police Chief statement

What we know:

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The City of Lake Geneva Police Department is opening up on the incident and the property destruction caused by the storms.

The police chief says, in part:

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“In moments of tragedy, we often see the very best in people, and that has certainly been true here. While there is still healing ahead, I hope everyone knows how grateful we are for the outpouring of support shown over these past several days. It has been humbling to witness and a reminder that no one faces hardship alone when a community stands together.”

Chief Ed Gritzner, City of Lake Geneva Police Department

The backstory:

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Walworth County experienced what law enforcement described as a “sudden and severe” storm on July 3. The National Weather Service said it created a downburst with peak winds estimated at 90–100 mph.

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The storm downed hundreds of trees and power lines, damaged several buildings and created hazardous boating conditions on Geneva Lake. One boat with 10 people on board overturned and ultimately sank. 

Six adults and one child were rescued from the water, while three of the kids were missing when emergency responders got there. Those three children were found and later died despite life-saving attempts. 

Emergency response on Geneva Lake after storms lead to calls for water rescue on July 3, 2026.

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Who was on the boat?

The latest:

The three children who died have been identified as a 10-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy. 

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The boat operator was a 47-year-old man. The other passengers were a 75-year-old man, a 73-year-old woman, a 49-year-old woman, a 46-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy.

The group included residents of Fontana, as well as residents of Batavia and Wheaton, Illinois. All four kids were wearing properly fitted life jackets, according to law enforcement.

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What happened on Geneva Lake?

Dig deeper:

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Law enforcement said the boat operator had “extensive boating experience” and was unable to find safe harbor when the storm hit. At least two large waves broke over the bow, causing it to take on water. Another wave hit the side of the boat, causing it to roll, capsize and sink. 

The sunken vessel was found in 32 feet of water, and three children were found inside the boat. Divers were able to get them out and bring them to the surface, and they were pronounced dead despite life-saving attempts. Investigators determined they had no external injuries and drowned.

What’s next:

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Geneva Lake Law Enforcement Agency are still conducting a joint investigation into the accident. Eleven other agencies assisted with the immediate needs.

The Source: Information in this post comes from the City of Lake Geneva Police Department and Community Unit School District 200 (CUSD 200), along with prior 

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