J.B. Pritzker, the 43rd governor of Illinois, is seeking a third term in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. If elected, he would be the first Democrat ever elected to three terms as governor in Illinois history, according to NBC Chicago.
Oak Park and River Forest voters will see the governor's race on their ballots. Pritzker, a Democrat, faces Republican Darren Bailey and independent Collin Corbett, according to BallotReady election data. His stated priorities on education funding, grocery costs and the child tax credit touch household budgets across the village.
Candidate information
- Name: J.B. Pritzker (Jay Robert Pritzker)
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: Illinois Governor
- Born: Jan. 19, 1965, Palo Alto, California
- Education: High school diploma, Milton Academy; bachelor's degree in political science and government, Duke University (1987); law degree, Northwestern University (1993)
- Endorsements (per BallotReady): AFL-CIO, Cook County Democrats, Citizen Action Illinois, Personal PAC, Equality IL, Chicago Federation of Labour, IBEW Local 134, IUOE Local 150 and others
Experience and public service
Pritzker was sworn in as governor on Jan. 14, 2019, according to the governor's office. He has held the office since.
Before entering elected office, Pritzker founded and served as managing partner of Pritzker Group from 1996 to 2017, according to BallotReady. He founded 1871, a Chicago technology startup hub, in 2012. He served as chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2006. He also chaired ChicagoNEXT, the Chicago mayor's council on innovation and technology, starting in 2012.
Earlier in his career, Pritzker worked as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House and Senate from 1987 to 1991, serving under Rep. Tom Lantos and Sen. Alan Dixon. He was national co-chair of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Pritzker's campaign materials and public statements as compiled by BallotReady and CBS Chicago. They reflect the candidate's own claims.
Economy and affordability: Pritzker says he wants to tackle the affordability crisis. His stated proposals include eliminating the state's sales tax on groceries, doubling the state's child tax credit and lowering prescription drug prices in Illinois, according to CBS Chicago. He says increasing wages and supporting small businesses are keys to a strong economy.
Federal policy: Pritzker says he is fighting to oppose President Trump's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, roll back protections against climate change and limit reproductive rights, according to CBS Chicago.
Reproductive rights: Pritzker's campaign says he has advanced equal pay, reproductive health, efforts to fight domestic violence and bodily autonomy, according to his campaign website.
Healthcare: Pritzker says he believes healthcare is a right, according to his campaign website.
Education and public safety: Pritzker's campaign says he is focused on providing quality education and on protecting Illinois families, according to his campaign website.
Candidate positions above are self-reported through campaign materials and BallotReady questionnaire responses. The Oak Park Wire presents them for voter information and does not independently verify campaign claims.
