Pritzker Wins Historic Third Term as Illinois Governor
Pritzker won a third term as Illinois governor on November 3, defeating Darren Bailey in a rematch of their 2022 contest. The victory makes Pritzker the first Democrat elected to three terms as governor of the state. He previously beat Bailey by nearly 13 percentage points in 2022.
Pritzker has emphasized his administration’s record, including higher state credit ratings, a $15 minimum wage, paid leave for workers and protections for abortion rights. He has also tied Bailey to President Donald Trump, whose positions are unpopular with many Illinois voters.
Bailey campaigned on reducing taxes and state spending, addressing crime and the cost of living, and repealing the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail. He had also opposed Pritzker’s pandemic restrictions. In this campaign, Bailey apologized for calling Chicago a “hellhole” during his previous run and moved to the city before the election.
The result adds to speculation that Pritzker could seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. He has traveled to early-primary states and supported candidates and political causes around the country, but has said his focus is on Illinois. Asked about his plans on election night, he said he would continue his work as governor.
Pritzker’s Third Term Rejects Bailey’s Trump-Aligned Agenda
Illinois voters returned JB Pritzker to the governor’s office on November 3, making him the first Democrat elected to three terms in the state. His win over Darren Bailey, whom he defeated in 2022, extends Democratic control and gives Pritzker another four years to pursue his agenda.
Pritzker has pointed to higher credit ratings, a $15 minimum wage, paid leave and abortion-rights protections as accomplishments. He has also warned voters about Bailey’s association with Donald Trump. Bailey’s opposition to abortion rights and his call to repeal the SAFE-T Act put the stakes of the race in sharp relief, even as he emphasized taxes, spending, crime and living costs.
Bailey’s campaign sought to make affordability a central issue, and he apologized for his past “hellhole” description of Chicago before moving to the city. But his proposed reversal of the state’s cash-bail law and his broader campaign positions offered a different direction from Pritzker’s record.
Pritzker’s victory also strengthens his national profile ahead of 2028 speculation. He has visited early-primary states and backed political efforts across the country, while saying his attention remains on Illinois. The question now is whether he will keep that focus or pursue a larger political role.
Pritzker Wins Again as Illinois Cost and Crime Concerns Persist
JB Pritzker won a third term as Illinois governor on November 3, defeating Darren Bailey for a second time. The result extends Democratic control of the governor’s office, even as the state continues to face high property-tax bills, concerns about crime and the cost of living.
Bailey made those pressures central to his campaign, calling for lower taxes, reduced state spending and repeal of the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail. He argued that residents were ready for change as living and business costs rose. Pritzker, meanwhile, touted improved credit ratings and policies including paid leave and a $15 minimum wage.
The election also leaves Pritzker with a platform as speculation grows about a 2028 presidential bid. He has traveled to early-primary states and supported candidates and political causes nationwide, while saying his focus is on governing Illinois. Bailey’s defeat means his campaign’s challenge to the state’s current direction did not dislodge Pritzker.
Pritzker’s third term will come as Illinois still contends with property taxes and persistent gang violence and gunfire in Chicago, despite a substantial decline in crime there. The governor has also failed to change the state’s flat income-tax structure after voters rejected a graduated-tax proposal in 2020. Those unresolved issues will remain part of the political landscape during his next term.
Reported by Chicago Sun-Times, CBS Chicago, NBC News, Block Club Chicago, The Washington Examiner, Breitbart, PBS NewsHour, FOX 32 Chicago.
