Gov. J.B. Pritzker is seeking a third term as Illinois governor in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. If elected, he would be the first Democrat ever elected to a third term as governor in Illinois history, according to NBC Chicago.
Pritzker, a Democrat, faces Republican Darren Bailey and independent Collin Corbett on the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. The governor sets state policy on education funding, taxes, public safety and transportation that directly affects Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents. For his third-term campaign, Pritzker has said he is focused on tackling the affordability crisis and opposing what he calls President Trump's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, roll back protections against climate change and limit reproductive rights, according to CBS Chicago.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: Illinois Governor
- Born: Jan. 19, 1965, in Palo Alto, California
- Education: High school diploma, Milton Academy; bachelor's degree in political science and government, Duke University (1987); juris doctor, Northwestern University (1993)
- Endorsements (claimed by endorsers): AFL-CIO; Citizen Action Illinois; Personal PAC; Equality IL; Cook County Democrats; Chicago Federation of Labour; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134; IUOE Local 150; International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399; Leadership Now Project; Jewish Democratic Council of America; Illinois NOW PAC; United Hellenic Voters of America; St. Clair County Democrats; Gazette Chicago Editorial Board
Experience and public service
Pritzker was sworn in as the 43rd governor of Illinois on Jan. 14, 2019, according to the governor's office.
He has served in the role since then.
Before entering elected office, Pritzker founded and served as managing partner of Pritzker Group, a private business, from 1996 to 2017, according to BallotReady. He also founded 1871, a Chicago technology startup hub, in 2012.
Earlier in his career, Pritzker worked as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House and Senate for Rep. Tom Lantos and Sen. Alan Dixon from 1987 to 1991. He served as chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2006. He also served as chairman of ChicagoNEXT, the Chicago mayor's council on innovation and technology, starting in 2012, and was national co-chair of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.
On the issues
The following positions are based on Pritzker's campaign statements and responses compiled by BallotReady. They reflect the candidate's own claims.
Economy and affordability
Pritzker has highlighted tackling the affordability crisis as a central campaign theme, according to CBS Chicago. He has said his priorities include eliminating the state's sales tax on groceries, doubling the state's child tax credit and lowering prescription drug prices in Illinois. Pritzker has said he believes increasing wages and supporting small businesses are keys to a strong economy, according to his campaign website.
Reproductive rights
Pritzker has said he has championed equal pay, reproductive health, efforts to fight domestic violence, and bodily autonomy, according to his campaign website.
Healthcare
Pritzker has said he believes health care is a right, not a privilege, according to his campaign website.
Education
Pritzker has said he is focused on providing quality education from early childhood through college, according to his campaign website. He has also highlighted his opposition to federal efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, according to CBS Chicago.
Candidate policy positions are drawn from campaign responses compiled by BallotReady and CBS Chicago reporting. Endorsements are claimed by the endorsing organizations. Voters can find more information at BallotReady.org.
