Pritzker reelection announcement react
Thursday, Jun 26, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Again, click here to read the governor’s remarks as prepared for delivery and click here to watch the video. From Leader McCombie…
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement in response to Governor JB Pritzker announcing his intent to run for a third term:
“The third term Pritzker slump won’t be any better than seasons one and two. We know what to expect - agency mismanagement, regressive taxation, and record spending. Illinois families need a governor for all people who understands true bipartisanship and growing our economy.”
That came from her state account, by the way. Checking on why.
This post will be updated.
…Adding… RGA…
The Republican Governors Association (RGA) today released the following statement in response to JB Pritzker announcing his campaign for a third term as Illinois Governor:
“People are fleeing Illinois by the hundreds of thousands and Illinois families continue to suffer the consequences of JB Pritzker’s abject record of failure at home while he spends his time on a national vanity project trying to further his own political career. Opportunities for working Illinois families are in the garbage, criminal illegal immigrants are protected over law-abiding citizens, and Pritzker’s tax hikes are destroying family budgets,” said RGA Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton. “Pritzker’s reign in Illinois has left families trapped in an economic disaster, and taxpayers are the ones left to shoulder the burden. It’s time to bring common sense to Illinois and end Pritzker’s feast on Illinois’ working families.”
* DGA…
DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly released the following statement on Gov. JB Pritzker running for reelection as governor of Illinois:
“Gov. JB Pritzker is an effective leader who has delivered strong results for Illinois throughout his time as governor. He turned a fiscal disaster into a balanced budget — overseeing a remarkable nine credit rating upgrades — championed economic development and attracted thousands of new good-paying jobs, expanded access to affordable health care, and made historic investments in education and infrastructure. Moreover, as politicians in Washington push an extreme and harmful agenda, Gov. Pritzker has been a staunch defender of reproductive freedom and our democracy. Illinoisans can trust him to keep standing up for their rights as he keeps the state moving forward.
“The DGA looks forward to supporting Gov. Pritzker as he continues to deliver the steady leadership that Illinoisians deserve.”
* ILGOP…
ILGOP Chairman Kathy Salvi released the following statement following Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s decision to run for a third-term as governor:
“JB Pritzker’s first two terms have been nothing short of a total failure. He’s prioritized illegal immigrants over Illinois families, hiked taxes, and rammed through the largest, most bloated budget in state history. He has used and abused the fine people of Illinois, allowing heavy handed government to meddle in the lives and safety of ordinary Illinoisans. These last nearly eight years under his governance merits firing not rehiring. While businesses and families flee, Pritzker sees Illinois as nothing more than a stepping stone for the White House.
“One thing is clear — the only way our state will have actual representation and relief is by voting Republican.”
What the media should ask JB: Will you commit to serving another four years if you win re-election? Or can we expect you to jet across the country running for president while putting Illinois on the backburner.
- Jibba - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:36 am:
Insert Debbie Downer sound effect here. The IL GOP simply has no coherent policy alternatives and no apparent interest in making any.
- Mr. Chicago - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:41 am:
Super safe announcement that doesn’t offend anyone beside Trump. Nothing wrong with that but it feels like the world is burning for a lot of people outside of Illinois.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:43 am:
Thanks so much for including the RGA press release written by a little kid named “Kollin” in Des Moines, I would hate to have missed that insight.
- Jr. Neef - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:50 am:
Is Sue Scheer running McCombie’s operation now?
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:50 am:
The GOP seems content with running the same campaign with the same messaging they ran the last two gubernatorial cycles. In each successive race they keep complaining that things are getting worse and as an alternative offer the same rejected policies. Why would things be any different this time around?
- Loyal Virus - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 10:54 am:
“the only way our state will have actual representation and relief is by voting Republican.” And to think I don’t come here for the laughs.
- Anonish - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:01 am:
The asking if they promise to serve the full term isn’t new messaging, but it isn’t bad either.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:11 am:
==(insert Democratic candidate’s name here) first two terms have been nothing short of a total failure.==
Looks like the GOP has come up with an AI app to respond to any Democrat’s bid for re-election.
- Annon'in - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:29 am:
TonyMac folos the great GOPies tradition of usin’ state funds for campaign. Lord knows campaign cash is in short supply there. Lee Daniels would be proud
- Frida's Boss - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:32 am:
Quick question-why doesn’t the GOP actually put out some policy issues that could solidify their argument instead of always saying they’re mad and so and so stinks.
Trump was successful by talking about what he wanted to do. He found buzzwords, such as no tax on tips and reducing red tape.
Mamdami pushed policies like taxing the rich, city-owned grocery stores, free childcare, and freezing rent.
Both polar opposites as far as candidates go, but both had a message; the Illinois GOP doesn’t have a message except JB bad.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:40 am:
“regressive taxation” ?? Please show homework.
- Henry Francis - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:42 am:
Well then, given what a disaster JB has been, it should be a piece of cake for the ILGOP to come up with a candidate to beat him. Right? /s
- JS Mill - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:45 am:
The pritzker announcement is solid and professional. It hits all of his bullet points. 8.5/10
=“One thing is clear — the only way our state will have actual representation and relief is by voting Republican.”=
LOL. Hard hitting response there. Whew, tell ne more Kathy./s
ILGOP strategy- we are going to keep on keepin on until we disappear or, miraculously, everyone buys our incredibly policy devoid message.
- It's always Sunny in Illinois - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:48 am:
Have to admit…..Mr Pritzker hasn’t met many taxes he doesn’t like……
- Roadrager - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 11:57 am:
==Have to admit…..Mr Pritzker hasn’t met many taxes he doesn’t like……==
He likes them so much he tried to raise them on himself, but that made some of his fellow Illinois billionaires so mad that they probably spent more to defeat his referendum than a tax hike would have cost them. (And, in some instances, moved to Florida anyway after getting what they wanted.)
The collected ILGOP remarks here reinforce that their state strategies are cooked and their brains are boiled.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:20 pm:
===regressive taxation===
Interesting take since the IGOP and their allies pulled out all of the stops to defeat an amendment that would have allowed a progressive tax.
===rammed through the largest, most bloated budget in state history. He has used and abused the fine people of Illinois, allowing heavy handed government to meddle in the lives and safety of ordinary Illinoisans. ===
They seem to have confused JB with their dear national leader.
- Jerry - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
Typically hypocritical repub response.
If limited government conservatives think city owned grocery stores are bad. Wait till they find out the United States Supreme Court just spit on parental rights.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:27 pm:
=“One thing is clear — the only way our state will have actual representation and relief is by voting Republican.”=
I’ve voted for plenty of Republicans, local, state, and federal in my lifetime. But those Republicans all had the same common traits that would would earn the label of “RINO” these days. So those candidates and others like them don’t exist much these days in the Republican Party. The party has no use for them and conversely I have no use for the party. And I hear nothing from the ILGOP that tells me this will change anytime soon.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:34 pm:
Of all the GOP statements, I think I liked best former House Republican Leader Jim Durkin’s one from Tuesday.
Durkin says Pritzker will easily win a third term if his Republican challenger is a “Trump” Republican.
“The Trump White House is really casting a dark shadow upon Independent voters and also the traditional socially moderate, fiscal conservative Republicans,” Durkin said. “The politics of Illinois has changed dramatically over the last 10 years. It was kind of a purple state, now a very very blue state.”
https://abc7chicago.com/post/illinois-governor-jb-pritzker-expected-announce-run-3rd-term-thursday-news-conference-sources-say/16836578/
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:51 pm:
“… the largest, most bloated budget in state history.”
Remember George Ryan’s budgets? Personal favorite was Thompson’s introduced FY86 budget, where the increase in state headcount exceeded his margin of victory in 1982.
- Brandon - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 12:52 pm:
How many times are republicans going to repeat the lie about losing hundreds of thousands in population? Do they think lying is ok? Do they think repeating it enough will make it true?
Illinois gained population in the 2020 census and that was BEFORE they admitted we gained an additional 252,000 people that were under counted.
Illinois and Chicago have been revised to show population increase both in 2023 and 2024, and in 2025 the chicago meteo area is outpacing the national home growth by 4x right now amd has been in the top 5 for 2 years running.
I wish dems would respond every time a republican lies with links showing what I just said until republicans are tired of having the real facts displayed so much and have to finally give up the lie.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 1:56 pm:
To the Republican Party
The voters have disagreed with you. By wide margins. Twice. And yet here you are, doubling, tripling and quadrupling down on your failed talking points. That’s not a good formula to win anything and it’s why you continue to be in the super minority. Illinois voters don’t want what you are trying to sell.
- Blitz - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:15 pm:
Soooo tired of the zero sum game language regarding protecting the rights of immigrants.
- illinifan - Thursday, Jun 26, 25 @ 2:39 pm:
to the Rs “Pritzker has been a total failur” claim just look at The Illinois rainy day fund. In 2017 when Rauner left office balance was $69000.00 and today it is $2.3 billion. I call that a good failure.