Illinois
Vallas: Pritzker for president? Check that Illinois baggage.
As Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker positions himself as the foil to President Donald Trump, a look at his record as governor is telling. What it is telling is not good.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is raising his national profile as he ponders becoming a candidate in the 2028 presidential primary, but his time leading Illinois offers plenty of evidence about his ability to govern effectively.
Or not.
Pritzker has been making campaign stops around the country. He’s positioning himself as Donald Trump’s chief antagonist, the leader Democrats need.
A billionaire heir, he has spent over $350 million of his inherited fortune to win election and reelection as governor. He’s spent tens of millions more to bring the Democratic National Convention to Chicago and to bankroll Democratic candidates, activist groups nationwide and policy proposals.
Voters wondering if they should give him a shot at a higher office should evaluate his record as governor through the lens of the key crises threatening America’s future. Here’s how he stacks up:
The economic threat
Pritzker has dismissed tariffs and tax reform as tools to protect American industry, instead favoring large subsidies and corporate giveaways.
Yet, Illinois’ 4.8% unemployment rate in April exceeded the national average of 4.2%. That unemployment rate translates into 322,000 Illinoisans looking for work, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Post-COVID job growth in Illinois has been driven largely by public sector hiring. In 2024, the only job gains came from the government as the state gained 15,600 state government jobs and 16,000 local government jobs. It simultaneously lost 16,200 jobs in professional and business services.
Securing the border
Illinois – especially Chicago – has used its sanctuary state and city status to offset people moving away. While outmigration has led to 1.6 million residents leaving the state since 2000 and contributed to nearly a decade of population decline, the recent influx of international migrants has padded the population. Rather than accept responsibility and work to improve reasons people move, Pritzker has claimed the Census itself is inaccurate in its reporting.
The state is now home to an estimated 530,000 undocumented immigrants, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. It has spent more than $2.6 billion on migrant services. In some cases, undocumented migrants are receiving benefits that many legal residents, struggling with their own challenges, do not.
Economic growth
Illinois lags the nation in nearly every key post-COVID economic metric and has become the “sick child” of the Midwest. Since Pritzker took office in 2019, the Illinois economy has grown 4.4% in real terms; three times slower than U.S. growth of 12.2%. The “Rich States, Poor States” report from the American Legislative Exchange Council ranks Illinois 46th in economic outlook for 2025 and 47th in economic performance during the past decade.
Taxes and government growth
Illinois has hiked taxes and fees over 70 times since 2010 costing residents $110 billion. But rather than solving the state’s fiscal problems, the tax hikes have simply fueled more government spending. Pritzker has raised taxes and fees 49 times, compared to nine times under Gov. Bruce Rauner and 12 under Gov. Pat Quinn, even after receiving over $15 billion in federal COVID funds.
Under Pritzker, state spending has grown 36%. By comparison, spending under Rauner increased just 8%, and 15% under Quinn.
Debt and fiscal responsibility
Illinois owes $144 billion in state pension debt, though actuaries estimate the load could be much higher. Its total state and local pension debt is about double that of all neighboring states combined. Year after year, Illinois budgets rely on short-term fixes and deferred obligations. Even after receiving an extra $35 billion from a combination of pandemic federal relief and higher than expected revenues, the state is facing a budget deficit in 2026.
For example, Pritzker’s proposed budget is $5.1 billion less than the actuarially required pension contribution needed to make real progress on reducing the long-term shortfall.
Public safety
Illinois became the first state in the country to completely eliminate cash bail, while failing to implement protections for victims, witnesses or police officers. In the Midwest, it has the highest robbery rate and the second-highest murder rate. Chicago leads the nation in murders, school-age child homicides and mass shootings among major cities.
Public education
Illinois public schools are among the highest funded in the nation, but also among the worst performing. The state spends an average of $21,800 per student – 16% to 64% more than neighboring states. Chicago Public Schools spends more than $30,000 per student. Less than one-third of Illinois third graders could read at grade level.
Pritzker became the first governor in the country to eliminate a school choice program when he let the statewide Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program expire. It was helping over 15,000 low-income families access schools that best met their needs, leaving needy families and students scrambling.
The threat to democracy
Despite promising to only approve a fair legislative district map, Pritzker backtracked and passed another gerrymandered map to keep his peers in power. Democrats hold a veto-proof majority in the Illinois General Assembly and Pritzker donates heavily to Democratic campaigns as well as statewide referendums.
Pritzker issued more than 100 executive orders during his tenure – including extending COVID emergency powers more than 40 times – long after other states ended their declarations, effectively granting himself unchecked power.
Economic inequality
Equity has been a stated priority in Illinois government since at least 2019, when Pritzker took office. Yet a 2024 WalletHub study ranked Illinois dead last among states in racial equity, based on eight indicators including poverty, homelessness, labor force participation, homeownership, executive employment, household income and unemployment gaps between Black and white residents.
Conclusion: a record of decline
Pritzker’s stewardship of Illinois offers little evidence that he is prepared to handle the nation’s most urgent challenges. Voters are responding with their feet: a recent Lincoln Poll found more than 50% of Illinois residents would leave the state if they had the means.
The message is clear: Illinoisans are deeply dissatisfied with life under Pritzker. The same could become true for the nation.
Illinois
Who is running for Illinois governor in 2026? What to know as primary Early Voting sites open
With Election Day for the 2026 Primary quickly approaching, many voters are considering who to mark their support for when they cast their ballot.
There are several big races on the ballot, including the gubernatorial race that has the potential to make history.
Though rumors are swirling that sitting Governor J.B. Pritzker has his eyes on a potential run for president in 2028, he’s still in the running for re-election. If he retains his seat, he’ll be the first Democratic governor to secure a third term in office in Illinois history.
While Pritzker is the only Democrat aiming for governor on the ballot, there is a slew of Republican candidates vying for a face-off with the incumbent in November.
Voters with their mind made up on which candidate they support can head to their local early voting site to cast their ballot before Election Day.
Though downtown sites and some across the suburbs have been open since early February, early voting sites will open in all 50 of Chicago’s and in several suburb on Monday, March 2.
For those still deciding how to mark their ballot, here’s a look at the gubernatorial candidates.
Democrats:
Governor J.B. Pritzker and Christian Mitchell
Current Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker is taking aim at a third term, promising to continue building on the work of his first two terms. According to his campaign website, some of his intentions for a third term include “[tackling] the affordability crisis,” continuing to protect access to reproductive health care in Illinois, and investing in education.
Chrisitan Mitchell is running alongside Pritzker for lieutenant governor. After representing the 26th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, Mitchell served as deputy governor to Pritzker from 2019 to 2023. Mitchell led efforts to ban assault weapons, make Illinois a leader in clean energy and create jobs through infrastructure projects as deputy governor, according to his campaign bio.
Republicans:
Ted Dabrowski and Dr. Carrie Mendoza
Ted Dabrowski is a Wilmette resident and former president of Wirepoints, a media outlet focused on conservative economic policies and financial data. From 2011 to 2017, Dabrowski worked as a spokesperson and Vice President of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank.
Dabrowski, who has never previously held political office, aims to cut and cap property tax rates, veto any and all tax increases, and repeal both Illinois’ sanctuary laws and zero-emissions energy policy, according to his campaign website.
“We must return power to the people, remove barriers to prosperity, embrace educational freedom, push political power down to its lowest level and restore the rule of law,” his campaign website says.
Dr. Carrie Mendoza, a Chicago-native with more than 25 years of experience as a physician, is running to be Dabrowski’s lieutenant governor, according to her campaign biography. Like Dabrowski, Mendoza has never held political office. Her campaign biography says she is “driven by innovation and a passion for justice.”
James Mendrick and Dr. Robert Renteria
The first Republican candidate to enter the race, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is campaigning on a push for public safety initiatives.
Sheriff since 2018, Mendrick has partnered with DuPage County Health Department to provide Medicated Assisted Treatment to inmates fighting opioid addiction and advocated for the use of a drug deactivation pouch system to protect people and the state’s waterways from dangerous medications, according to his campaign website.
“He is committed to ending soft-on-crime policies, defending parental rights, and delivering quality education to every child in the state,” his campaign website says.
Dr. Roberta Renteria veteran of the U.S. Army and is a prolific author and activist, according to his campaign biography.
“Dr. Renteria uses his personal story, business acumen and leadership skills to address bullying, gangs, violence, drugs, suicides and school dropout,” his campaign biography says. His books and curriculums are taught in 25 countries around the world, and he has given many Ted Talks.
Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar
Former state senator Darren Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois in 2022, is giving another go at assuming the political seat. A third-generation downstate farmer, Bailey’s campaign is focused on reducing government spending, cutting taxes, and cracking down on crime, according to his campaign website.
In addition to his farm work, Bailey founded a private Christian school with his wife Cindy.
He fought against spending, raising taxes and sanctuary state policies while in the Illinois House and later in the State Senate.
Aaron Del Mar is an entrepreneur who became the youngest-ever Councilman for the Village of Palatine at 29 years old in 2016. He oversees public safety and infrastructure and guides community organizations in the position, according to his campaign biography.
Rick Heidner and Christina Neitzke-Troike
Though businessman Rick Heidner has never held office, he has led several notable companies, including Gold Rush Gaming, Ricky Rocket’s Fuel Centers, Prairie State Energy, and Heidner Properties, according to his campaign website.
A lifelong Illinoisian, Heidner is “running to make Illinois safe again, affordable again, and full of opportunity again,” his website says.
Christina Neitzke-Troike is looking to step up into the lieutenant governor seat from her current role as Mayor of Homer Glen after nearly two decades in several elected positions.
Neitzke-Troike hopes to bring her “unparalleled understanding of how state mandates affect local budgets, property taxes, and public services” to Springfield, according to her campaign biography.
Members of the Missouri and Illinois congressional delegations are split over President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran.
And some Democrats are criticizing Trump for launching the attack without conferring with Congress — and before lawmakers could vote on a war powers resolution that would have restricted the president from using force against Iran.
American and Israeli troops launched airstrikes around Iran on Saturday. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump cited Iran’s refusal to abandon its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs as rationale for the attack. The Republican chief executive added that “the lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties that often happens in war, but we’re doing this not for now.”
“We’re doing this for the future, and it is a noble mission,” Trump added.
Early reaction to Trump’s decision among Missouri and Illinois political figures broke down along party lines.
Jason Rosenbaum
/
St. Louis Public Radio.
Congresswoman Ann Wagner, R-Missouri, said in a statement that “for nearly fifty years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven itself to be utterly committed to violence, chaos, and instability.” Wagner, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, added that “the United States, along with the support from many of our allies around the world, will no longer allow this regime to wreak havoc at will.”
“As the President stated, Operation Epic Fury is a clear and necessary action to raze the Iranian ballistic missile industry to the ground, annihilate the Ayatollah’s navy, and ensure Iranian terrorism and nuclear threats can no longer destabilize the globe,” Wagner said. “The multiple statements of support from across the Western world illustrate the importance of this action.”
Wagner is alluding to how the leaders from a number of countries, including Canada, Australia and Ukraine, backed Trump’s decision to attack Iran.
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, said in a statement on X that he backed Trump’s “swift and bold action to finally hold the regime accountable.”
“The Iranian regime is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, a destabilizing force across the region, and a threat to U.S. allies, interests, and bases in the Middle East,” Alford said. “Tehran is directly responsible for the deaths of countless Americans over the years.”
“As I’ve said for weeks, through either the easy way or the hard way, the Ayatollah needs to go,” Alford added.
Missouri Congressman Sam Graves said in a statement that Trump “took decisive action to protect our service members, our homeland, and our national security before that threat could grow.” And Congressman Mike Bost, R-Illinois, applauded President Trump acting decisively to protect America’s national security interests.
“God bless our military men and women in harm’s way; may the uncertain days ahead lead to a lasting peace for years to come,” Bost said.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, said Trump has “taken decisive action to defend America’s interests and confront those who threaten our security.”
“As our elite Armed Forces carry out Operation Epic Fury in Iran, we lift up our brave service members and the allies standing beside them in prayer for their safety and success in the mission,” Miller said in a statement on X.
Eric Lee
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Durbin, Pritzker decry decision
Democrats representing Illinois and Missouri roundly condemned Trump’s decision to attack Iran, including Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Duckworth said in her statement that “too many Americans believed him when he promised that he would get our nation out of foreign wars and bring prices down for families.” The Democratic lawmaker added Americans “can clearly see with their own eyes that he was lying”
“Instead, Donald Trump chose to put American lives and national security at risk while threatening to draw us into yet another expensive, taxpayer-funded forever war without Constitutionally-required authorization, a defined end-state or a real plan to prevent the instability that could come next,” Duckworth said. “He is making that choice while his chaotic policies here at home continue driving costs for middle-class Americans to record highs.”
While noting “there is bipartisan support for stopping the development of nuclear weapons in Iran, there is no consensus for another interminable war in the Middle East.”
Durbin, who is not seeking reelection this year, pointed out he was one of 23 senators to vote against authorizing military force in Iraq in 2002. Trump attacked Iran without receiving any authorization from Congress — and before lawmakers could vote on a war powers resolution aimed at restricting military force without permission from the country’s legislative branch.
“A war in Iran with the goal of regime change could be another long-term military commitment with deadly consequences for thousands of American troops,” Durbin said. “The rash and unpredictable conduct of President Trump is a well-established worry in many ways but an impulsive commander in chief is a deadly combination.”
Brian Munoz
/
St. Louis Public Radio
Democratic Reps. Wesley Bell and Nikki Budzinski both released statements criticizing Trump’s decision to strike Iran. Budzinski, an Illinois Democrat, said “the Constitution is clear: only Congress has the power to send our nation to war.”
“This is a grave responsibility — one we take with the utmost seriousness. But the same cannot be said for President Trump,” said Budzinski, who added she would support a War Powers resolution. “Once again, he has disregarded the principle of coequal branches of government. And now, the consequences could be profound and dangerous.”
Bell said in his statement that “no one should mistake opposition to this war for sympathy toward that government.” But the Missouri Democrat added “launching a regime change campaign without a clear strategy, a defined end goal, or honest preparation for the costs is dangerous and shortsighted”.
“Military force is the most serious power our country can exercise,” Bell said. “It requires clarity of purpose, clearly defined objectives, and a credible plan for what comes next. War is not something you enter lightly, and it is not something you get to redo if it goes wrong. The American people and their Representatives deserve to know that every diplomatic option was fully exhausted before we put our troops in harm’s way.”
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a potential presidential candidate in 2028, also blasted Trump’s decision for having “no justification, no authorization from Congress, and no clear objective.”
“But none of that matters to Donald Trump — and apparently neither do the safety and lives of American service members,” Pritzker said in a statement on BlueSky. “Donald Trump is once again sidestepping the Constitution and once again failing to explain why he’s taking us into another war. Americans asked for affordable housing and health care, not another potentially endless conflict. God protect our troops.”
Schmitt and Hawley mum for now
As of Saturday morning, Missouri Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley had not released statements about Trump’s decision to attack Iran.
Both Missouri Republican senators were critical of Democratic President Joe Biden’s push to provide Ukraine with weapons to repel Russia’s invasion.
But they’ve been largely supportive of Trump’s foreign policy moves, even as some elements of the president’s political coalition have been fiercely critical of his interventionist decisions in Venezuela and Iran.
When asked about potential military action last week in Springfield, Hawley called Iran “a huge threat to the region, to our ally Israel — but also to our interests.”
“Iran absolutely cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and needs to be put in their box and kept in their box,” Hawley said. “And we need our allies in the region, particularly Israel, to be strong, to keep them deterred, and contained long term.”
This story has been updated with additional comment.
Michigan basketball entered Friday having lost nine straight games to Illinois. With the sole regular-season matchup coming in Champaign against the KenPom No. 4 Illini, it was going to be a tall task for the Wolverines to end that streak.
The game matched up the nation’s No. 2 defense against the No. 1 offense, and in front of a raucous Orange Krush, the maize and blue took a little while to get into an offensive rhythm. Because the No. 5 offense is no slouch, especially against the No. 31 defense. What’s more, Morez Johnson Jr. returned to Champaign after spending his first year with Illinois.
However, the Illini certainly showed how much Michigan appears to be their rival, and really played a physical brand of basketball. After Illinois got a five-point lead, the Wolverines bounced back and got a six-point lead. Illinois had a slight advantage in the first half on the boards, but the Wolverines had a field goal advantage. Both teams were relatively even on turnovers.
Ultimately, Michigan ended up taking a seven-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but backup point guard LJ Cason appeared to have hurt his knee on the final score of the half.
The second half started with a Michigan layup and an Illinois 3. The next round of scoring went exactly the same way. But then Yaxel Lendeborg hit a 3 to stop the asymmetry. They traded baskets, but then after a few Illinois turnovers, the Wolverines pushed the lead to 10.
Cason returned to the game after the under-16 media timeout, providing (temporary) good news for the maize and blue (he would leave the game again shortly). But the Wolverines missed a few shots, and Illinois took advantage, getting a shot from the field by Mirkovic before Wagler hit a 3 to cut the lead to five, prompting a Michigan timeout with 13:09 remaining.
Illinois cut Michigan’s lead back down to six, but Yaxel Lendeborg stretched it back to nine with a layup-and-one. Then Aday Mara started taking over.
Mara was unguardable, scoring floaters, dunks, and putbacks. His quick 7 points put the Wolverines up to a game-high of 14 with 9:13 remaining. The Illini answered to end the nearly three-minute field goal drought, ending Michigan’s 7-0 scoring run. But the Wolverine defense held, and Trey McKenney finally hit his first (of three) 3-point attempts to push the lead to 15, and he hit again on the next trip, pushing the lead to 18 with 7:34 left in the game. It was a 13-2 scoring run for the maize and blue.
After an Illinois timeout, they missed again, and Will Tschetter got in on the contagious, 3-pointer action, pushing the lead to 21. Cadeau finally broke the makes from deep, and Wagler hit to cut the lead back to 18 with 5:41 remaining.
Illinois couldn’t mount a comeback, and Michigan won, 84-70. Here are our five takeaways.
Homecoming for Morez Johnson Jr.
An Illinois native who spent his first year with the Illini, the Orange Krush did as much as it could to make it uncomfortable for the outgoing transfer. However, it wasn’t the case, as Johnson was often the best player on the floor.
He was the only Michigan basketball player in double digits at halftime, with 13 points, five rebounds, and a steal, and he was something of an energizer bunny out on the floor for the Wolverines. There were no qualms for Johnson returning to his old stomping ground, as he played one of his best games in a maize and blue uniform.
Johnson was quiet in the second half, but the damage was done, and it makes his former teammate’s pregame comments more prescient:
What could have been.
Johnson finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and netting 11 rebounds.
Michigan’s offense outplays Illinois’ offense
As noted, the Illini entered the game with the No. 1 overall offense, while the Wolverines were No. 5. Yet, when the rubber hit the road, it was the maize and blue who had the superior offensive attack, managing to shoot 52.5% overall and 60% in the second half. Illinois managed 41.3% and 43.3% respectively.
The Michigan defense forced Illinois to go through a series of uncomfortable stretches in the second half, with multiple three-minute droughts from the floor. And Illinois, which is accustomed to getting to the foul line, couldn’t seem to draw many fouls until relatively late in the game. Even when the Illini forced three Wolverine turnovers late, they couldn’t seem to take advantage.
Ultimately, Michigan was dominant on both ends of the floor.
Bench, fastbreak, and points in the paint
The Wolverines dominated all three categories, finishing the game with 20 bench points, 10 fastbreak points, and 42 points in the paint. We already discussed Johnson and his homecoming, but we cannot leave out Aday Mara, who was just such a mismatch for Michigan vs. the Illini. As noted, Mara really flexed late in the game, taking it over. He was the catalyst for most of these stats.
Meanwhile, Illinois only had 7 bench points, 1 fastbreak point, and was just behind Michigan with 32 points in the paint.
The streak was emphatically broken
As we said in the open, the Illini had beaten the Wolverines nine straight times. Even the Fab Five couldn’t beat Illinois in Champaign, as the maize and blue have historically struggled at State Farm Arena. Though it took some time for the Wolverines to flex, flex they did, and this was as emphatic of a win as Michigan had all season.
The final score may have been just a 14-point gulf, but honestly, the game wasn’t really that close (and it hadn’t been for most of the final 10 minutes). This was a huge win for the Wolverines, one that’s been years in the making. If not decades.
With the win over Illinois, Michigan has won the outright Big Ten regular-season title.
No. 1 overall seed back in the realm of possibility
It may come down to the Big Ten Tournament now that Michigan has lost the head-to-head with Duke. And the Blue Devils’ 54-point win over Notre Dame pushed them into the No. 1 NET ranking, stealing it away from the maize and blue. But with a win over the No. 4 NET-ranked Illini, the Wolverines have the second-best win in college basketball (behind Duke, of course). They also have wins over No. 5 Gonzaga, No. 7 Purdue, No. 11 MSU, No. 12 Nebraska, and will face No. 26 Iowa on the road next week.
There’s a strong case for the maize and blue to have the No. 1 overall seed given the levels of domination over most all of the aforementioned teams.
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