36 Comments - Proud Papa Bear - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 10:32 am: Looks like it’s not gonna happen, JB. Fine by me. I’d rather he stay right where he is. - Roadiepig - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 10:41 am: Considering how strong Illinois goes for the Democratic Party here , it would make more sense to pick someone from a state that is in play. Whitmer would be a good candidate, but probably not on a two woman ticket (still a lot of knuckle draggers who would might vote for a woman, but probably not a two woman ticket), so I’m expecting a man for VP. Mark Kelly would be a perfect choice IMO (Astronaut, husband of Gabbie Giffords and an effective US Senator), but I’m not a beltway pundit so my opinion is just that- my opinion. - blues - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 10:42 am: veepstakes is less about winning and more so about making sure you’re name is in the mix. nice to have our gov’s in the mix - Demoralized - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 10:42 am: While I think he would be a strong addition to the ticket (he’s articulate and could take it to Trump and Vance very well) I just don’t see what he adds. Illinois is a lock for the Democrats. Yes, he’s a midwesterner but I don’t think that Pritzker translates into votes in Wisconsin or Michigan. Would I support choosing Pritzker as the VP candidate? Absolutely. I just don’t think he’s the best choice. - Colin O'Scopy - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 10:45 am: =but I’m not a beltway pundit so my opinion is just that- my opinion= I would argue that because you are not a beltway pundit, your opinion has more weight. - Amalia - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:00 am: he would be great and then the Lt. Gov could move up when they win and she’s wonderful. but speculation is down to Kelly and Shapiro. - NIU Grad - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:01 am: Agree with blues - It’s great that our state finally has elected leaders on the national political stage. I think the last time we had a governor considered for higher office was Big Jim Thompson. - TJ - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:06 am: I like Pritzker, and think he’d make a darn good running mate or candidate in his own right, but the simple fact is that Gov Cooper in NC, Gov Shapiro in PA, Sen Kelly in PA, and Gov Whitmer in MI all bring more to the table as a running mate for Harris by hopefully making a swing state more likely to win for her. She doesn’t need any help in Illinois after all, and I’m not entirely sure that an IL Gov necessarily plays super well in other midwestern states more so than a PA or MI gov. Pritzker’s shot at the presidency or vice presidency probably is limited to 2028 if Harris loses this year, or 2032 (when he’ll be 67, which honestly isn’t too old in this day and age). Either that, or if Harris wins Pritzker could be a pretty reasonably attractive cabinet secretary for commerce - Suburban Mom - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:06 am: Nomads for Pritzker is my favorite thing in the entire political universe. - H-W - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:08 am: Just my two cents as a layperson of politics. Pritzker would he exceedingly bored “presiding over the Senate.” Pritzker is a substantive and significant executive. Becoming a VP to get in line and show loyalty is not a requisite for an accomplished leader of Pritzker’s caliber. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:09 am: Maybe JB should check his spam folder. Seriously, agree with Blues and NIU. JB deserves national attention for being a good gov, but I think IL is a better fit. - Neef Jr. - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:12 am: wish I still was an OP researcher … those guys are gonna be busy the next week or so $$$$$ - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:17 am: Harris might want to pick a Rust Belt/red state type Democrat who can help her where she needs to win. Pritzker is doing a great job and should remain in Illinois, which has much room for improvement. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:22 am: Everyone should keep it in mind that the kinds of folks trusted with this process that value future employment and future trust don’t leak. The initial stages of Vice Presidential vetting also usually begin with a white shoe law firm. I’m not even completely sure if a well run campaign would itself ever be asking for any materials instead of relying on the different white shoe law firms that they might hire to completely handle the process. White shoe law firms also don’t leak. A “source familiar” isn’t confidence building and if is a somehow authorized leak it is to see how it plays in the media, see how the potential folks handle the attention, and importantly, make it a wee bit easier to poll someone like Cooper who has been an excellent governor while battling an insurgent GOP legislature who hasn’t been seeking the national spot light as much as some other folks who would be on my list. - DuPage Saint - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:32 am: I think she should pick a governor unless there is a great blue state senator otherwise you could really lose senate. That said I think Sherrod Briwn from Ohio would be good would make Ohio interesting and counter act Vance I like our governor and wish he stays here but if Democrats win and he got a real important cabinet post I could see him leave - Downstate - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:34 am: JB doesn’t enhance the ticket in the way that Kelly, Shapiro or Cooper do. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:34 am: ===Nomads for Pritzker is my favorite thing in the entire political universe. Same - clec dcn - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:41 am: He does not want to play second fiddle and he is first fiddle by far in Illinois. He and she cannot beat Trump and I don’t think he wants in any way to get beat. - Politix - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:44 am: =Pritzker is a substantive and significant executive. Becoming a VP to get in line and show loyalty is not a requisite for an accomplished leader of Pritzker’s caliber.= This. 100%. - Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 11:56 am: ===not a requisite for an accomplished leader of Pritzker’s caliber.=== In a practical sense going from Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Vice President is also demotion, but President Joe Biden still took the job when he was asked. - Nick Name - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 12:12 pm: ===I just don’t see what he adds=== Pritzker has been a successful governor. Unlike the “turnaround agenda” guy, he actually has turned Illinois around. He eliminated the $17 million bill backlog he inherited, he got us, what, 8 credit upgrades? He signed bills protecting women’s reproductive health care, legalizing pot, banning assault weapons, and reforming the corrupting cash bail system. He signed a bill making Juneteenth a holiday even before President Biden did. Most remarkable, with bipartisan support, he got a massive and long overdue infrastructure bill passed. Oh, and he’s got piles of cash to spend on an election campaign. “I don’t see waht he adds”? He adds a ton. - Tom - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 12:13 pm: The best thing JB can do is “lend out” Anne Caprara to the Harris campaign. There is no one better in the business to bring home a win. - Vote Quimby - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 12:16 pm: In my humble opinion, I hope JB stays and seeks a third term before running for POTUS in 2028 or 2032. Illinois is in a great spot now after … let’s call it “a string of ineffective governors” to be polite … and I hope to see that continue before he runs for higher office. - Alton Sinkhole - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 12:24 pm: What does Pritzker bring that Shapiro or Kelly doesn’t (besides money, which Kamala is not hurting for + JB will likely still give plenty). Sorry JB, I love ya - but it’s a bad idea to make you VIP right now. That’s the way it goes sometimes - Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 12:32 pm: I love JB, but I think his shot is coming. This isn’t it, yet (2028/2032). - Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 1:03 pm: === Sherrod Briwn (Brown) from Ohio === Not only do we need Harris to win to protect democracy, we need Congressional control to accomplish things. Picking Brown would ensure that Senate seat would go to the MAGA GOP. I’m doubtful that it would provide enough oomph to give Ohio to Harris. - Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 1:04 pm: P.S. Think Senate = judges, judges, judges, judges. - Frida’s boss - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 1:25 pm: He should take it. If she losses he’s top tier for 28, if she wins hes got 8 years to lock in the House and Senate and be the guy for ‘32. He can impact remapping nationally from VP spot instead of as a fly in rich guy. He can also put Juliana in as Gov now which gives her the big advantage for ‘26. As VP he’ll be able to put a big thumb on the scale for Durbin replacement. Plus if he goes and Durbin leaves it opens a bunch of lanes for the climbers. - TJ - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 1:38 pm: Harris (and Biden) recognized the senate’s importance. There’s a reason why Biden didn’t consider red state senators for Veep or cabinet roles (including otherwise blue states that had GOP governors, which is why Sanders and especially Warren didn’t get cabinet gigs), and seemingly Harris is looking at governors with clear Democrat successors or senators with Democratic governors to appoint their replacements. - Res Melius - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 1:47 pm: I heard both JB Pritzker and Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, on Morning Joe this morning (not that I’m a regular listener). JB was his engaging, articulate, enthusiastic self, promoting Illinois and the convention. Walz was also on fire with a great backstory as a counterpoint to JD Vance. If Walz isn’t picked representing a key state, he should definitely be in the campaign trenches. - TC - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 2:08 pm: Take JB to DC. Please. - Save Ferris - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 2:10 pm: Dem Governors are far more valuable in their seats than as a VP. I totally in the tank for NASA, regardless, but Kelly would be my choice hands down. - Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 2:21 pm: =P.S. Think Senate = judges, judges, judges, judges.= For all intents and purposes, the Senate is gone. There are only 8 “competitive” elections and all 8 are currently held by Dems. That includes WV - with Manchin leaving, it won’t even be competitive. After that, R’s need to pick up one of MI or AZ (both open), or knock off either Tester or Brown in states that will go to Trump by double digits. I suppose it’s not impossible that Dems run the table (after losing WV), Harris wins and the VP breaks ties, but that’s a pretty tough row to hoe. Kelly would be a great Veep candidate, but considering how precarious the Senate already is, I think it’s Shapiro. I think he brings more to the table than Cooper. - Give Us Barabbas - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 3:09 pm: I’m selfish: I want JB to stay in place and keep fixing the state. VP is not as interesting to someone like him as a cabinet level seat somewhere, or a judgeship. Man, He’d be great on the the expanded Supreme Court. But I think the whole veep thing is not happening. Still, “It’s an honor just to be nominated”, as they say. Thompson would have been a great VP. Issues with Jane took him out of the running early. These days, the same issues would hardly cause an eyeblink. - MyTwoCents - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 4:50 pm: I agree with the general sentiment above, it’s great to have JB in the national conversation but he should stay in IL. IMHO it’s probably between Kelly and Shapiro. I don’t think Kelly being in the Senate is as big of an obstacle as Joe Bidenopolous makes it out to be. My understanding of AZ is 1) he wouldn’t have to resign until after winning (see McCain running for President) and 2) any Democratic successor would then serve until the 2026 election. So the seat wouldn’t be in play until the 2026 election and with the way Arizona is trending who knows how competitive of an election it would be. - RNUG - Tuesday, Jul 23, 24 @ 8:30 pm: JB doesn’t need to be second fiddle. Or part of a losing ticket. Better to remain a Governor of a powerful State, run up his record of competence. I don’t agree with all his policies, but he has been good for the State. His best shot is 2028. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.