Today, JB For Governor released a new TV ad, “Walk It, Talk It,” highlighting Governor JB Pritzker’s key achievements on behalf of Illinois working families. The 60-second ad features Gov. Pritzker walking through Illinois communities, greeting residents on sidewalks and train platforms, and hearing concerns directly from Illinoisans. The ad will air statewide on broadcast and cable television, as well as on digital platforms.
“From guaranteeing paid leave for workers to lowering the price of prescription drugs, we’ve delivered for the people of Illinois,” said Gov. Pritzker. “I am running for reelection to protect that progress and continue fighting for workers and families in every corner of our state.”
But the real highlight is the people I meet along the way on sidewalks…
ILLINOISAN 1: Really nice to meet you
GOV. PRITZKER: …train platforms…
ILLINOISAN 2: We appreciate your support in the community.
GOV. PRITZKER: …in neighborhoods.
Thank you for your service.
I’m deeply proud of the people of Illinois, and I want you to feel the same pride in our state. Eight years ago, Illinois was being crushed by debt and unpaid bills. 10 credit upgrades later – more than any other state – we’ve saved taxpayers billions.
We expanded early childhood education, guaranteed paid leave for workers, lowered the price of prescription drugs, and I fought for our basic freedoms to protect innocent people and keep soldiers off our streets.
ILLINOISAN 3: Definitely feel like you’re with us.
GOV. PRITZKER: These are uncertain times, but Illinois will keep pushing forward, and I’ll keep walking with you, mile after mile. Because Illinois should have leaders who fight hard for the people we serve.
VOICE OVER: JB Pritzker, standing for progress, fighting for you.
Meh - rate is a C+ , average ad, i’m sure this is the first of many I get that the “walking” bit is trying to contrast the perceived “craziness” of some on the right- but it’s not gonna move the needle with anybody that’s not already in his camp. Nice to have his money so he can unveil a whole battery of ads to expand his message.
It’s a pretty good ad. It comes across as adult, gentlemanly and Governorish (is that a word?) and it’s nice to see a candidate ad that actually tracks with the office they’re running for instead of the hyperbolic drama and side issues that we’re seeing so much of this cycle in other races. B+
==No pandering, no cheap black a white tilted video.
No screaming attacks.==
Those start March 18.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:16 am:
B. Solid, accessible. I like that he focuses the most on the credit upgrades over the eight years in office. The “Illinoisians” seem like actors to me, so that stops it from being an A. I kept thinking “are these actually real people?”
==10 credit upgrades later – more than any other state==
Not surprising, considering less than ten states were already two notches or less below the top credit rating in 2019 and there are only three ratings agencies.
Mathematical impossibilities aside, I’m surprised he didn’t mention the grocery tax.
Rate A. Very straightforward ad. Clear message from Pritzker. Enjoyed the scenes of the lakefront, connecting with citizens, and getting steps in. Thinking back to Bailey’s first campaign for governor, the skyline of Chicago certainly doesn’t resemble a Hellhole.
Politically effective or not, I just enjoy the positivity about my home State. Quite the contrast from past doomsayers.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:44 am:
Excellent ad, rated A. Backed up by results. Very concise and upbeat. Great to see the governor (or anyone) walking for fitness and health, presidential aspirations or not.
I kinda think this kind of happy talk is missing the mood, but it really doesn’t matter for him. He’s the Dem in a Trump midterm, he’s been pretty successful, and his rivals are all laughingstocks. He just needs to handle the basic blocking and tackling, and this ad does that.
I would give it an A. Pritzker is at his best when he leans into his happy warrior ethos. It’s also a refreshing change of pace in a steady stream of “I’ll stop Donald Trump” ads.
A+ Love this ad. He comes across as likable, relatable and happy to talk with anyone. To quote a metric from a previous campaign, this is the guy you want to have a beer with. Also, I love the walking bit because it has the added benefit of being true.
- James of Little Italy - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
Grade A Because for my first 17 years in Chicago, I felt like I lived in a good city in a bad state. The state fiancés were very shaky because the income tax was lower than Indiana’s. Finally, things went into a ditch in 2009-10. I love hearing about those credit rating upgrades. I wonder who isn’t getting rich off IL junk bonds? It’s great living in a state that doesn’t suck. Thanks JB.
A. It is a very good ad. I watched this ad several times trying to decide what I think of it and what story it is telling. It is up beat, it is positive, it concisely states a lot that the governor has done and makes a straight forward commitment to keep doing it. It actually feels reassuring.
Reassuring at a time when nothing else feels that way.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 7:01 am:
I like Pritzker, so a biased A.
No pandering, no cheap black a white tilted video.
No screaming attacks.
I’m out walking and talking to people and acting like a civil human being.
Thank you.
- Think Again - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 7:40 am:
Meh - rate is a C+ , average ad, i’m sure this is the first of many I get that the “walking” bit is trying to contrast the perceived “craziness” of some on the right- but it’s not gonna move the needle with anybody that’s not already in his camp. Nice to have his money so he can unveil a whole battery of ads to expand his message.
- Red Ketcher - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 7:54 am:
B - positive and simple ( 55 years after another Governor Walked )
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 7:56 am:
I’m giving it an A primarily for all the fist shaking and yelling at the TV it will cause among the MAGA crowd.
- Stephenson County - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 8:07 am:
Excellent
- Responsa - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 8:28 am:
It’s a pretty good ad. It comes across as adult, gentlemanly and Governorish (is that a word?) and it’s nice to see a candidate ad that actually tracks with the office they’re running for instead of the hyperbolic drama and side issues that we’re seeing so much of this cycle in other races. B+
- Epic Fail - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 8:34 am:
F. He didn’t name check Trump once. Guy’s losing his fastball.
- Nazgul - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 8:44 am:
I hate this guy with a passion. Great commercial though and the shots of him make him a likable guy. A+ even got a hater like me to appreciate him.
- Steve - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 8:54 am:
C- Costs of living in Illinois have gone up. Higher taxes and tolls. JB is doing the best he can selling something that is costly.
- Big Tom - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:08 am:
You wear the ring. His colors are Duke and Northwestern.
- Bob - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:11 am:
==No pandering, no cheap black a white tilted video.
No screaming attacks.==
Those start March 18.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:16 am:
B. Solid, accessible. I like that he focuses the most on the credit upgrades over the eight years in office. The “Illinoisians” seem like actors to me, so that stops it from being an A. I kept thinking “are these actually real people?”
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:18 am:
==10 credit upgrades later – more than any other state==
Not surprising, considering less than ten states were already two notches or less below the top credit rating in 2019 and there are only three ratings agencies.
Mathematical impossibilities aside, I’m surprised he didn’t mention the grocery tax.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 9:40 am:
Solid B. Sounds like what you want an adult chief executive to sound like.
=Costs of living in Illinois have gone up.=
Should he lower tariffs? I kid.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:14 am:
===Not surprising, considering less than ten states were already===
lol
Were you around when the previous governor tried to get us into junk territory?
- XonXoff - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:29 am:
I think it’s a good ad for this stage.
And JB looks great, cut’n that weight. Laughably obvious now why Bailey told GOP to pump the brakes on fat jokes (Feb.14th on the twitter.)
- Rudy’s teeth - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:31 am:
Rate A. Very straightforward ad. Clear message from Pritzker. Enjoyed the scenes of the lakefront, connecting with citizens, and getting steps in. Thinking back to Bailey’s first campaign for governor, the skyline of Chicago certainly doesn’t resemble a Hellhole.
- Norseman - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:34 am:
Politically effective or not, I just enjoy the positivity about my home State. Quite the contrast from past doomsayers.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 10:44 am:
Excellent ad, rated A. Backed up by results. Very concise and upbeat. Great to see the governor (or anyone) walking for fitness and health, presidential aspirations or not.
- Arsenal - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:03 am:
I kinda think this kind of happy talk is missing the mood, but it really doesn’t matter for him. He’s the Dem in a Trump midterm, he’s been pretty successful, and his rivals are all laughingstocks. He just needs to handle the basic blocking and tackling, and this ad does that.
- Jerry - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:03 am:
A+. One of the best ads ever.
- City Zen - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:20 am:
==Were you around==
JB added the qualifier, not me.
- Mason County - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:22 am:
Did not mention Trump once. Good. He kept it positive. B+
- Pundent - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:40 am:
I would give it an A. Pritzker is at his best when he leans into his happy warrior ethos. It’s also a refreshing change of pace in a steady stream of “I’ll stop Donald Trump” ads.
- Tom - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 12:34 pm:
Kudos to JB and his team. Great ad, great man. I would love to be his media guy — those minute commercials cost bank. LOL
- New Day - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 1:11 pm:
A+ Love this ad. He comes across as likable, relatable and happy to talk with anyone. To quote a metric from a previous campaign, this is the guy you want to have a beer with. Also, I love the walking bit because it has the added benefit of being true.
- James of Little Italy - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
Grade A Because for my first 17 years in Chicago, I felt like I lived in a good city in a bad state. The state fiancés were very shaky because the income tax was lower than Indiana’s. Finally, things went into a ditch in 2009-10. I love hearing about those credit rating upgrades. I wonder who isn’t getting rich off IL junk bonds? It’s great living in a state that doesn’t suck. Thanks JB.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 3:29 pm:
A. It is a very good ad. I watched this ad several times trying to decide what I think of it and what story it is telling. It is up beat, it is positive, it concisely states a lot that the governor has done and makes a straight forward commitment to keep doing it. It actually feels reassuring.
Reassuring at a time when nothing else feels that way.
I’m proud of you too, Gov.
- Shytown - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 5:18 pm:
Definitely an A. Does a nice job of bringing his record and values to life.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 5:40 pm:
I rate it an A…Pritzker does not appear to be either demented or insane…a double dip much appreciated given today’s menu.
- ThirdTerm - Thursday, Feb 26, 26 @ 11:45 pm:
A+ (with 10 upgrades)