Victory Research
60%50%40%30%20%10%0%
54.3%
Illinois Democratic Senate nominee?
$1.5M
MAR 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyProgressive Democrat
Age61 years old (Jan 19, 1965)
GenderMale
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LocationIllinois
BackgroundPolitician
EducationDuke University — B.A., Political Science
Notable personal detailsJay Robert "J.B." Pritzker is an American politician, lawyer, and businessman who has served as the 43rd governor of Illinois since 2019, after being elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He earned a B.A. in political science from Duke University and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Pritzker has been involved in venture capital and private investment and has been active in philanthropic efforts focused on early childhood education and other civic causes.
SourcesShowHide
gov.illinois.govjbpritzker.comen.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orggovernorsmansion.illinois.goves.wikipedia.orgx.comilsos.govdocs.house.govillinois.govnews.atdcfs.illinois.govhfs.illinois.govarxiv.orgcapitolnewsillinois.comnews.wttw.comillinoispolicy.orggov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.comcbsnews.comwglt.orgpolitico.comwbez.orgapnews.comchicago.suntimes.comilga.govdceo.illinois.govnrdc.orgbclplaw.comchicagotribune.comnga.orgfec.govcongress.govdocquery.fec.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
JB Pritzker has advocated replacing Illinois’s flat income tax with a progressive “Fair Tax” that would raise taxes on the wealthiest residents while leaving most taxpayers the same or paying less, and he has proposed using higher revenues to expand state spending on education, infrastructure and social programs. As governor he has also proposed targeted tax changes on businesses and specific goods (for example, increasing sportsbook and certain business-related taxes) to help fund spending increases while ruling out broad-based income tax rate hikes in some budgets.
Healthcare
Supports expanding and protecting Medicaid, strengthening insurance consumer protections, and expanding access to care through state-level reforms and investments. Has enacted and promoted legislation to curb predatory insurer practices, eliminate Medicaid application backlogs, expand Medicaid-covered services and pursue Medicaid demonstrations that address social drivers of health. Does not publicly advocate for single‑payer/Medicare for All in the cited materials.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protecting non‑criminal undocumented residents and refugee resettlement while endorsing deportation of convicted violent criminals; advocates expanding humanitarian relief (e.g., TPS, services for refugees and DACA recipients) and has pushed the federal government for more border coordination and resources. Opposes mass deportation operations that bypass legal protocols and has pledged Illinois will limit state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement consistent with state law.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports broad legal access to abortion and has signed multiple laws expanding and protecting reproductive health care in Illinois, including shields for out-of-state patients and protections for providers; describes reproductive care as essential and affirms trust in women to make medical decisions.
Climate & Energy
The candidate supports aggressive clean-energy and emissions-reduction policies, including statewide targets to transition to carbon-free power and major investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and clean-energy workforce development. As governor he signed and implements the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), which creates renewable procurement targets, accelerates EV adoption and charging infrastructure, and directs substantial funding for equitable clean-energy programs.
Public Safety & Guns
As governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker has backed and signed multiple major gun-safety laws including an assault-weapons ban, limits on high-capacity magazines, expanded background checks, a ban on ghost guns, firearm restraining-order (red flag) provisions, and safe-storage requirements. His administration also created an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and supported measures to regulate guns and gun-industry practices.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 12, 2026
JB Pritzker is drawing attention as a possible 2028 Democratic presidential contender, and he recently said he has not decided whether to run. He has been using interviews and public appearances to highlight his record in Illinois and criticize President Trump, while also warning about rising political violence and antisemitic threats. At the same time, he is backing his lieutenant governor, Juliana Stratton, in Illinois’ U.S. Senate primary, a race seen as a test of his political influence.
gov.illinois.gov+32
Articles
PPOLITICO1 month ago
‘We Want to Move on From Losing’: Pritzker on Antisemitism, Trump and 2028
Positive
FNFox News2 months ago
Pritzker, Shapiro and Moore eye 2028 amid troubled reelection bids
Neutral
BDBoulder Daily Camera2 months ago
Democratic presidential prospects flock to Al Sharpton's conference
Neutral
UNU.S. News & World Report2 months ago
Democratic Presidential Prospects Flock to New York to Court Activists at Al Sharpton's Conference
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements
- Fundraising