What Pritzker's running mate pick says about his national plans
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Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton speak on election night in 2018. Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images
Gov. JB Pritzker made his reelection bid official on Thursday, but stopped short of introducing a new running mate now that current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is running for U.S. Senate.
Why it matters: With rumors swirling that Pritzker could run for president in 2028, his new running mate could be next in line to ascend to the governor's mansion.
What they're saying: "I wanted to set a standard for my successors that if you desire to hold this office, you must be first in line to sing our state's praises and last to belabor her shortcomings," Pritzker said Thursday.
- I want it to be the expectation and not the exception that if you want to be Governor of Illinois, well then you better love her like she deserves."
Context: If Pritzker won reelection in 2026, it would not prohibit him from running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028.
- He could hold onto the governor's seat while running for the White House, or he could step aside and give the job to the lieutenant governor.
- State election law says the lieutenant governor would take over as governor until the next election cycle.
Flashback: It's only been since 2014 that the candidates for governor and the lieutenant governor have run together. Before that, the elected offices were split on the ballot.
Zoom in: Since Democrats have a slew of statewide officeholders, the list is long on possible replacements for Stratton.
- Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have all won statewide elections and could be big draws for a Pritzker ticket.
Yes, but: If they ran for lieutenant governor, they could not run for reelection for their respective offices, which are all on the ballot in 2026.
- This could create an opportunity for the Illinois GOP to swoop in and win a statewide office, which they currently do not hold.
The intrigue: It's not just the statewide offices factoring into who might be interested for the state's No. 2 job.
The Chicago mayoral race takes place in early 2027, and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is rumored to be kicking the tires on a potential run.
Between the lines: Pritzker could also go with a lesser-known Democrat as his running mate, much like he did by choosing Stratton in 2018, who was a fresh state representative from Chicago.
- Current Deputy Gov. Andy Manar and former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell are two possible names.
- Also, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, who ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 2022.
The bottom line: Pritzker's reelection campaign has started, but the domino effect for Illinois Democrats could shuffle names on the 2026 ballot.
What's next: 2026 Democratic candidates will ask for endorsements from the powerful Cook County Democratic Party during meetings in mid-July.