Question of the day
Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* Governor JB Pritzker on WGN last night…
Bradley: And I just wanted to ask your view on people who run for two offices at the same time. Because in the mayor’s race, there are a couple candidates either running for Congress and also for mayor, or at the county and also for mayor, Secretary of State and also for mayor. And some might even say of you: You’re running for governor, you’re not running for anything else, but you haven’t ruled out running for something later. President, of course, I’m talking about. Does that just leave a—a bad taste when people are seeking two offices at the same time
Pritzker: I can just say that I think that if you can do your job—the job that you’re in today, that you’re running for now—if you know you can do the job and you will choose to run for another job after that, then I don’t think there’s a problem with that. I will say that I think there’s a problem in state law, where we’ve got the city of Chicago having a mayoral race so close to a general election at the state level that it makes it so that people do have to decide: Can I run for this job? Should I think about running for the other job? What do I do about that?
Bradley: Does that suppress turnout, you think?
Pritzker: I think suppresses turnout in the following—in the off-year election that is the mayoral election. Because people—I mean, it’s already hard for people to come out in a midterm election, let alone a presidential election. Now add to that, this nonpartisan mayoral election. I’m not going to go after changing the law personally. I’m just expressing to you that I think it’s problematic. I see why people have to make tough choices.
Please pardon any transcription errors.
The Question: Should the General Assembly move municipal elections to even-numbered years? Make sure to explain your answer.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:23 am:
I would totally be ok with that. It would save money on having to administer the low turnout municipal elections every odd numbered year and would allow people to focus on governing than consistently being on a campaign trail. Even if an elected official is not on the ballot during the municipal election, they are usually very much involved in these races. Making all of these races during even-numbered years will give everyone (voters, elected officials, etc.) a reprieve from having to constantly be dealing with campaigns all of the time.
- Incandenza - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:25 am:
Yes. More efficient, brings out more voters, reduces the influence of high-propensity voters who are more likely to be ideologically dedicated.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:25 am:
The municipal election is also in February in Chicago, which is not exactly going outside time. I would favor changing it. It almost seems like they designed it to suppress turnout.
- ArchPundit - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:29 am:
Yes, we have far too many elections that people cannot keep track of. Reducing the number of times people vote would help as would reducing the number of offices though reducing offices is a lot tougher to pull off
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:30 am:
No. Candidates running for local offices like municipal alderman, school or library board would find it nearly impossible be heard during the onslaught of campaign noise during the even-year elections. At least in the odd-years they get the stage to themselves. Meanwhile, voters can focus on local, versus national or statewide, issues when vetting the candidates.
- Paul Peterson - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:31 am:
Of course they should but they will have to cross the CTU and other special interests that want a low turn out election
- @misterjayem - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:33 am:
As someone who thinks that maximum voter participation is beneficial to a representative democracy, I favor moving the municipal elections. — MrJM
- Sue - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:36 am:
Yes- one need not look any further then Brandon Johnson to convince me the April local elections need to be abolished
- The Dude Abides - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:41 am:
Yes, but only if it is accompanied by significant election reform - get the dark/PAC money out, and curtail the campaign season to 6-8 weeks.
- Leatherneck - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:43 am:
No, but I would move the Local Elections to the November Election Day in odd numbered years. And return the Illinois Primary day back to the last Tuesday in June like we had in 2022–but this time for State/federal primaries in even numbered years, and local primaries/ballot questions in odd numbered years.
- fs - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:43 am:
== Yes. More efficient, brings out more voters, reduces the influence of high-propensity voters who are more likely to be ideologically dedicated.==
This times 100. A big reason for odd and off year elections, especially primaries, were to amplify the power of parties and organizations with strong gotv structures. More than ever we need systems that help encourage turnout and the voice of the moderate voter, not systems that try to muzzle it. Gerrymandering reform and election date consolidation would do a lot for that. Unfortunately, I doubt we see either any time soon.
- Remember the Alamo II - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 10:49 am:
=== curtail the campaign season to 6-8 weeks ===
How exactly can this be done? It seems like an unnecessary restriction on first amendment rights.
- Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Tuesday, Sep 15, 26 @ 11:04 am:
Yes, streamlining anything tends to remove dead wood.