UPDATED: Pritzker Announces Re-Election Campaign
Governor JB Pritzker announced Monday he’s running for re-election next year.
In an announcement Monday that came as a surprise to few, Governor JB Pritzker announced he’s running for re-election in 2022.
The Governor announced via a web video:
Here’s a portion of his news release:
Today, Governor JB Pritzker announced he and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton will run for re-election to a second term in 2022, releasing a video that highlights the strength of the state’s response to the COVID pandemic and JB’s commitment to the people of Illinois.
“I can’t tell you what pride it gives me as Governor of the state to see the people of Illinois standing up for one another. We saw the fundamental goodness of the people of Illinois exists in Southern Illinois as it does in Central Illinois as it does in Northern Illinois,” Governor JB Pritzker says in the video. “Part of why I’m running for re-election is because I watched the heroes across our state step up and do the right thing. We had so much to accomplish and we were able to do that -- together. I’m very proud of all of the people of the state of Illinois and we have so much more we can do together.”
“It has been my honor to work alongside Governor JB Pritzker these last few years to move Illinois in the right direction and lift up working families. From increasing the minimum wage, making historic investments in infrastructure and creating jobs, to expanding access to health care and bringing fiscal stability back to state government, we’ve made real progress for the people of Illinois,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “I don’t think any of us could have predicted the challenges the last year brought for all of us, but through it all I’m proud of what a strong leader JB has been in these tough times, and I can’t wait to continue our partnership.”
It’s interesting the Governor’s messaging is completely about COVID response using faces almost solely from downstate. It’s a message you likely don’t expect to resonate downstate, though, unless his polls say differently.
UPDATE (4:46 P.M.):
Reaction from GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Schimpf:
"Governor Pritzker's reelection announcement today means the voters of Illinois will face a stark choice about the future of our state in 2022. Under the Pritzker Leadership Deficit, he has failed to stand up to corruption, failed to protect our veterans and families, and has failed to help overtaxed Illinoisans. In just three years, JB Pritzker has demonstrated he has neither the vision nor the leadership skills to unite our state. Simply put, Illinoisans deserve better--they deserve a leader with commonsense who will renew our state."
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UPDATE (4:50 P.M.):
State GOP Chairman Don Tracy and State Democratic Party Chair Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) issue statements.
Kelly:
“Governor Pritzker has shown outstanding leadership during one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history and proven he is the right leader for the State of Illinois. It is because of Gov. Pritzker’s courage, compassion and guidance that we are emerging from a global pandemic safely and stronger than we were before it began. When others ignored science and condemned sound judgement, Gov. Pritzker forged ahead with the tough choices our families, workers and businesses needed. Gov. Pritzker made the hard decisions that put Illinois back on solid financial footing after years of dysfunction. Gov. Pritzker is the leader we need to continue making progress in Illinois, and Illinois Democrats are excited to re-elect him Governor of our great state."
Tracy:
“During a global pandemic that required steady leadership, Governor Pritzker failed our most vulnerable in their time of need. When our children missed an entire year of in-person education, Pritzker was silent while political teachers unions forced children to stay home even when the science and CDC said they should be back in school. When thousands of Illinoisans were laid off from work, they went weeks without help from Pritzker’s incompetent state unemployment agency. And when our nation’s elderly heroes needed protection from the virus in our state facilities, the tragic mistakes of the Pritzker administration led to the death of 36 veterans at Lasalle Veterans Home.
Governor Pritzker’s record on helping Illinois through the pandemic is a failure. I look forward to talking about that and his radical policy agenda out of step with Illinoisans in the upcoming election.”
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