Trump critic JB Pritzker expected to launch Democratic re-election bid for third term as Illinois governor
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to announce on Thursday that he'll seek a third four-year term steering the blue Midwestern state, a source with knowledge confirmed to Fox News.
The billionaire governor, a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain and who has started several of his own venture capital and investment startups, is expected to make his announcement in Chicago before traveling to Springfield, Illinois' capital city.
Illinois, which is the nation's sixth most populous state, does not have term limits for statewide officials. However, there has not been a three-term governor in the state in over three decades, since GOP Gov. Jim Thompson won four terms as governor in the 1970s and 1980s.
Pritzker has become one of his Democratic Party's most vocal critics of the sweeping and controversial moves by President Donald Trump during the opening months of his second tour in the White House.
"We've got to be ready for the fight," Pritzker said in an interview with Fox News Digital in April.
The 60-year-old governor argued that the nation is "in a constitutional crisis" and that "we have too many people who are ill-affected by the policies of the Trump administration."
Pritzker, who has taken steps to "Trump-proof" his solidly blue state, told reporters earlier this year, "You come for my people, you come through me."
Pritzker is seen as a potential contender for the Democrats' 2028 presidential nomination – and the launch of his 2026 gubernatorial re-election campaign is not expected to derail him from potentially running for the White House.
He was a high-profile campaign surrogate in the 2024 cycle on behalf of former President Joe Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee last summer.
Those efforts brought Pritzker to Nevada, a general election battleground state and an early-voting Democratic presidential primary state, and New Hampshire, which for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.
Additionally, Pritzker's return to New Hampshire this spring, to headline a major state Democratic Party fundraising dinner, sparked more speculation about a possible 2028 presidential run.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jasmine Crockett fumes over Melania's ‘Einstein visa' and shreds the first lady's modeling career
Melania Trump's 'Einstein visa' status, modeling career, and marriage became the focal point of a heated House hearing on restoring integrity in the visa process. Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett shredded the Trump administration's mass deportation policies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, accusing the government of 'snatching' visas off legal citizens and imposing travel bans. The 44-year-old Democrat challenged her Republican colleagues on the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, questioning why they weren't concerned about a lack of integrity 'when it comes to the president's family.' Crockett placed the elusive first lady under the spotlight, who moved to the U.S. after having an EB-1 visa approved. Nicknamed the 'Einstein visa,' the document is typically reserved for individuals who have won a Pulitzer, Oscar, or Olympic award, as well as those highly acclaimed in their field, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 'Let me tell you how you receive an Einstein visa,' Crockett said. 'You're supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer, being an Olympic medalist, or having other sustained extraordinary abilities and success in sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics,' she continued. 'Last time I checked the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt.' Three years after meeting the president at New York's Kit Kat Club, Melania moved to the U.S. on her EB-1 visa. She eventually became a U.S. citizen in July 2006. At a time when the president is railing against immigrants and directing ICE officials to enact raids across the country, questions have once again been raised about Melania's suitability for the extraordinary ability category. Crockett rattled off a list of iconic 1990s supermodels and argued that the Slovenian-born runway star didn't belong in the same league. 'Melania, the first lady, a model – and when I say model, I'm not talking about Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell-level – applied for and was given an EB1 visa,' the congresswoman continued. 'It doesn't take an Einstein to see that the math ain't mathin' here.' Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies, who bore witness to Wednesday's hearing, chimed in to 'defend' the first lady. 'I also want to defend Melania real quick,' he said. 'Not everybody could marry Donald Trump and I think that's quite an achievement. So I think she deserves credit for that. Nobody up here could have done it!' 'You sure are right,' Crockett sneered. 'I couldn't have done it.'
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Fetterman foe and ex-congressman Conor Lamb touring Pennsylvania as Dems express frustration with often Trump-backing senator
ENOLA, Pa. — Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania isn't even up for reelection until 2028, but already a one-time primary foe, former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, is crisscrossing Pennsylvania and social media, looking and sounding like he's preparing to challenge Fetterman again. At town hall after town hall across Pennsylvania, Democrats and allied progressive groups aren't hearing from Fetterman in person — or Republicans who control Washington, for that matter. But they are hearing from Lamb, a living reminder of the Democrat they could have elected instead of Fetterman. The former congressman has emerged as an in-demand town hall headliner, sometimes as a stand-in for Fetterman — who just might bash Fetterman. Advertisement 'I thought I was going to play Senator Fetterman,' Lamb joked as he sat down in front of a central Pennsylvania crowd last are frustrated with Fetterman 4 Former U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, who lost to John Fetterman in the 2022 Pennsylvania Democratic primary, has been crisscrossing the state of late. AP Lamb's reemergence comes at an in-between moment, roughly halfway through Fetterman's six-year term, and is helping define the struggle facing Democrats in swing-state Pennsylvania. Advertisement There, Democrats figure prominently in their national effort to push back on President Donald Trump, but also in their struggle to figure out what to do about Fetterman, who is under fire from rank-and-file Democrats for being willing to cooperate with Trump and criticizing how Democrats have protested him. Frustration with Fetterman has been on display on social media, at the massive ' No Kings ' rally in Philadelphia and among the Democratic Party's faithful. The steering committee of the progressive organization Indivisible PA last month asked Fetterman to resign. It's quite a turnabout for the hoodies-and-shorts-wearing Fetterman, elected in 2022 with an everyman persona and irreverent wit, who was unafraid to challenge convention. For some progressives, frustration with Fetterman began with his staunch support for Israel's punishing war against Hamas in Gaza, an issue that divides Democrats. Advertisement It's moved beyond that since Trump took office. Now, some are wondering why he's — as they see it — kissing up to Trump, why he's chastising fellow Democrats for their anti-Trump resistance and whether he's even committed to their causes at all. Most recently, they question his support for Trump's bombing of Iran. 4 Fetterman has confounded Democrats of late with his support of some Donald Trump policies. AP 'It hurts,' said John Abbott, who attended Sunday's event in suburban Harrisburg. Advertisement Speaking at the flagship 'No Kings' rally in Philadelphia, Indivisible co-founder Leah Greenberg name-checked Fetterman. 'We're looking to the leaders who will fight for us, because even today there are folks among the Democratic Party who think we should roll over and play dead,' Greenberg said. 'Anyone seen John Fetterman here today?' The crowd is Conor Lamb crisscrossing Pennsylvania again? In Pittsburgh, progressives trying to land an in-person town hall with Fetterman or first-term Republican Sen. David McCormick noticed when the two senators advertised an event together at a downtown restaurant to celebrate the release of McCormick's new book. Progressive groups organized to protest it and — after it got moved to a private location with a private invite list — went ahead with their own town hall. They invited Lamb and a local Democratic state representative instead. More invitations for Lamb started rolling in. By his count, he's now attended at least a dozen town halls and party events, easily clocking more than 2,000 miles to appear in small towns, small cities and suburbs, often in conservative areas. 4 Lamb says he'll do anything to 'stop this slide that we're on toward a less democratic country and try to create one in which there's more opportunity for people.' AP Advertisement 'Showing up matters and it really does make a difference,' said Dana Kellerman, a Pittsburgh-based progressive organizer. 'Is that going to matter to John Fetterman? I really don't know. I don't know what he's thinking. I don't know if he's always been this person or if he's changed in the last two years.' Fetterman has brushed off criticism, saying he's a committed Democrat, insisting he was elected to engage with Republicans and — perhaps hypocritically — questioning why Democrats would criticize fellow Democrats. At times, Fetterman has criticized Trump, questioning the move to 'punch our allies in the mouth' with tariffs or the need for cuts to social-safety net programs in the GOP's legislation to extend 2017's tax cuts. Fetterman's office didn't respond to an inquiry about Conor Lamb running for Senate? For his part, Lamb — a former U.S. Marine and federal prosecutor — says he isn't running for anything right now, but he'll do whatever he can to 'stop this slide that we're on toward a less democratic country and try to create one in which there's more opportunity for people.' Advertisement To some Democrats, he sounds like a candidate. 'That he's doing these town halls is a good indication that he'll be running for something, so it's a good thing,' said Janet Bargh, who attended the event in suburban Harrisburg. Aside from the town halls, he spoke at the Unite for Veterans event on the National Mall. He has also been active on social media, doing local radio appearances and appearing on MSNBC, where he recently criticized the June 14 military parade ordered up by Trump. 4 Lamb claims he isn't running for office, although some Democrats believe he's positioning himself to do so. AP Advertisement Not long ago, it was hard to envision Lamb losing a race, ever. In 2018, he won a heavily Trump-friendly congressional district in southwestern Pennsylvania in a special election. It was the center of the political universe that spring, drawing campaign visits by Trump and then-presidential hopeful Joe Biden. Suddenly, Lamb was ascendant. Then he ran for Senate and lost handily — by more than two-to-one — to Fetterman in 2022's primary. Advertisement People often ask Lamb if he's going to challenge Fetterman again. Lamb said he reminds them that Fetterman has three years left in his term and pivots the conversation to what Democrats need to do to win elections in 2025 and 2026. Still, Lamb is unafraid to criticize Fetterman publicly. And, he said, he's a magnet for Democrats to air their unhappiness with Fetterman. What he hears, over and over, is frustration that Fetterman spends too much time attacking fellow Democrats and not enough time challenging Trump. 'And that is, I think, what's driving the frustration more than any one particular issue,' Lamb said. At the town hall, Lamb wasn't afraid to admit he'd lost to Fetterman. But he turned it into an attack line. 'When I watch the person who beat me give up on every important issue that he campaigned on … the more I reasoned that the point of all of this in the first place is advocacy for what's right and wrong,' Lamb told the crowd. 'And advocacy for not just a particular party to win, but for the type of country where it matters if, when you stand up, you tell the truth.' The crowd cheered.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani Ends Triumphant Week With New Endorsements
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani clinched two key union endorsements on Friday, rounding out an already successful week on the heels of Tuesday night's primary election win. Newsweek previously reached out to Mamdani's campaign via email Friday for comment. Why It Matters Mamdani's victory in the primary against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, sparking debate about its direction and the influence of progressive platforms. Mamdani's triumph, built on promises like free city bus rides, free child care, and city-owned grocery stores, has magnified internal rifts within the Democratic Party following the 2024 presidential election loss. The New York assemblyman ultimately landed the backing of key lawmakers like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, but was largely unknown to New Yorkers when he announced his intent to run, per the Associated Press (AP). Mamdani's win could underscore potential shifts in national and local Democratic politics, with trends pointing toward embracing candidates aligned more with progressive agendas. What To Know On Friday, Mamdani landed the backing of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council along with the 32BJ SEIU. Both unions, influential in city and state politics, previously backed Cuomo in his race for mayor. Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, told Spectrum News NY1 via phone on Friday that, "We met with Zohran today. He came and spoke to our executive board and the board voted to endorse him." Continuing, Pastreich said that Mamdani's "combination of a vision that put working people of New York front and center, raising wages and how to bring down prices of the most expensive things" helped secure the endorsement from 32BJ SEIU. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the union said in part, "We look forward to putting boots on the ground and joining the @ZohranKMamdani coalition working to build a truly affordable city! 1/" Hotel and Gaming Trades Council also posted to X on Friday announcing the endorsement, saying, "Less than 48 hours after the Democratic Primary on Tuesday, presumptive winner @ZohranKMamdani visited our union's headquarters to meet with HTC President Rich Maroko and a crowd of HTC members about his campaign for Mayor." "'It would be an honor to have the support of the hardworking men and women of this union. It would be an honor even more than that to have your partnership to make this the greatest City in the world so that every single New Yorker who builds it can afford to stay in it,' Zohran Mamdani told the crowd. Today, our union proudly announced our endorsement." Mamdani's ability to attract endorsements from unions that had previously backed establishment figures demonstrates sustained momentum and highlights fault lines in the party. Following Mamdani's primary victory, Republican Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee publicly called for Mamdani's deportation. In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York condemned those remarks as "disgusting" in a news conference on Friday. The public defense from Schumer is notable following Mamdani's win as it could possibly trigger panic buttons for him and other Democratic establishment leaders alike, as some pollsters argue that Ocasio-Cortez could potentially challenge Schumer's Senate seat. Mamdani also posted endorsements from the New York State Nurses Association and state senator and Candidate for Manhattan borough president Brad Hoylman-Sigal on social media Friday. New York mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) can be seen speaking to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of... New York mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) can be seen speaking to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) More What People Are Saying Senator Sanders on X on Friday: "Mamdani won. The establishment is in panic. Billionaires are raising money against him; Trump is ranting; Islamophobes are on the loose. They know what we know: Candidates who stand boldly with the working class can win not only in NYC, but anywhere. Let's stand with Zohran." Mamdani on X on Thursday: "On Tuesday, New Yorkers delivered a mandate for a Mayor who puts working people first and makes this city affordable for all." What Happens Next? Mamdani is now expected to ramp up general election campaigning, widening his coalition and consolidating support from key Democratic constituencies. With national attention focused on New York, endorsements and opposition will likely intensify ahead of the mayoral general election in November.
