Miller and Pritzker's clash at House hearing could be 2026 preview
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Rep. Mary Miller arrives at the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the Capitol in February. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
A recent House hearing over immigration policy turned into a political brawl — and quite possibly a preview of 2026 elections in Illinois.
The big picture: Downstate Rep. Mary Miller is emerging as the MAGA favorite in the Illinois Republican Party and could be a challenger to powerful Democrats running for governor or U.S. Senate.
The latest: Last week, Miller requested to join the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to grill Gov. JB Pritzker.
What they said: "Your policies have been disastrous for our state, and would be disastrous for this country," Miller said during the committee hearing.
- Pritzker didn't take Miller's attacks lightly, hurling back, "I'm not going to be lectured to by someone who extols the virtues of Adolf Hitler."
Context: The governor was referencing Miller's comments at a rally right before the Jan. 6 insurrection. Miller said, "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, 'Whoever has the youth has the future.'"
Between the lines: The two continued to spar in the hearing, suggesting the start of a heated rivalry between two very different politicians.
What they're saying: "I think Mary stands for the future of the Illinois Republican Party," downstate Republican state Rep. Adam Niemerg tells Axios.
- "The establishment Republican Party has left the state of Illinois. Now you have a working-class Republican Party. People are fed up with being left out."
- "I think she would be a great candidate to take on Governor Pritzker for the governor's mansion," Neimerg adds.
Zoom in: Miller has been a lightning rod for controversy. She was recently condemned for posting about her dislike for a Sikh prayer at the beginning of a recent House session.
- She was also excoriated for saying that Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022 was a "victory for white life," which her office later claimed was a misread of her prepared remarks.
Yes, but: Miller is one of President Trump's biggest supporters in the majority-Republican Congress, having served since 2020 and been elected three times by her downstate district.
- She is a more popular Republican candidate than former state Sen. Darren Bailey, who lost to Pritzker in 2022.
The intrigue: If Miller doesn't want to return from Washington, she may also be a strong candidate to take on Democrats looking to replace outgoing Sen. Dick Durbin.
- Another downstate Republican who could be interested in that seat is Rep. Darin LaHood.
Reality check: While Miller is making waves, the Illinois GOP doesn't currently hold an elected statewide office. State Democrats also hold the supermajority in both chambers in the state legislature.
- Miller's right-wing views may clash with the more moderate (and populated) parts of the state, namely in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties.
- If Pritzker runs for reelection, he will be a strong candidate because of his fundraising and name recognition.
Of note: Miller hasn't announced any plans to leave her downstate congressional seat.
The bottom line: Illinois Republicans struggle to recruit candidates, but Miller may be their best hope to challenge Democrats for higher office in 2026.