* The governor was asked about potential running mates today during an unrelated press conference…

Pritzker: Mostly, there have been people who have reached out to me to let me know about people they want to advocate for. Certainly, over the last few months, since our great lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, decided and announced that she was going to run for United States Senate. There have been folks who hoped that I might run for re-election and choose a running mate, so that’s really all there have been. But terrific people recommended to me a number of just excellent candidates to choose from. […]

Pritzker: Again, you understand what my criteria are. I start out with the question: Is this person qualified to be governor of the state? Because that’s really the question that we’re asking when we choose a lieutenant governor, first. And then again, a question about: Has this person demonstrated that they care deeply, as much about people who live in areas that they don’t live in, or who have different views than they do, in parts of the state that they’re not from?

So those are, like I said, those are mostly the, at least the first part of vetting.

And then we go through for appointees in the administration. I mean, broadly, everybody from a cabinet secretary in the cabinet of my administration to people who serve on important boards and commissions. We do a vetting process for them, that you understand what those things are. I think we want to make sure that whoever it is has the qualifications that they say they do and things like that.

So those are very simple. But again, most of the people that were recommended to me, that I’ve thought of, are people who meet all of those standards to begin with. And the ones at least that are on my short list, meet all those standards.

…Adding… On if the Governor will serve a full term if re-elected…

Reporter: How likely do you think that the person you select might actually have to step into the role of governor, say in the next two years?

Pritzker: I don’t know I feel like I’m in decent health. My doctor says so. So I hope that wouldn’t be a reason. And I don’t know, I whatever the odds are that a lieutenant governor, you could probably look back in the history of since 1818, when we became a state of Lieutenant Governors stepping in. So I don’t know what those odds are, but it’s happened a few times, but not too terribly often.

But I also think that that person becomes a prominent person in public life, like Juliana Stratton has and and whether they end up running for governor at some future date, rather than just rising into the position, or they end up running for other statewide office. I think being lieutenant governor is a really important position to hold, and they have duties that are quite important for people all across the state.

…Adding… The Illinois Latino Agenda…

Following Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement that he’s running for re-election while Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton pursues a bid for U.S. Senate, the Illinois Latino Agenda calls on Governor Pritzker to partner with a Latino running mate:

“As the state’s second largest racial or ethnic group and one of the most rapidly growing demographics, Latinos consistently contribute to Illinois’ economy through labor, homeownership, purchasing power and entrepreneurship. It’s essential that our state government understands and is accountable for including Latinos in its priorities – especially in the face of a federal government that’s actively working to eliminate and punish our presence.

“For all of those reasons, the Illinois Latino Agenda calls on Governor JB Pritzker to leverage this opportunity to select a Latino running mate for Lieutenant Governor as he pursues re-election. A statewide executive office that reflects the communities it serves, includes Latino leadership in decision-making roles, and elevates Latino voices is one that has greater trust from more communities and deepens future civic engagement.”

* Related…

* Tribune | Gov. JB Pritzker is running for reelection. Who will he pick as his No. 2?: “They’ve got to be somebody who can do the job — if something happens and they had to take over,” Pritzker said, describing his ideal running mate to reporters Thursday in Chicago. “And I think just as importantly, somebody who really has a heart for the people of the state of Illinois. That’s not in everybody, right? But you got to have somebody who actually cares about all parts of the state.”