Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) will be running for a third term, making him the first governor in the state to seek a third term in more than 30 years. 

Many political strategists see Pritzker’s bid for a third term as governor as a strategic step toward a run for the White House.  

Recommended Stories

• North Carolina Democrats seek embargo of U.S. military aid to Israel
• Al Green's Trump impeachment resolution killed in bipartisan House vote
• Still winning: Over 80% back Trump’s deportation of criminal illegal immigrants

Pritzker will make the announcement for his reelection bid during in-person events in Chicago and Springfield, sources close to his campaign told the Chicago Tribune. While exact details remain under wraps, Democratic supporters were invited on Monday to attend a campaign event, signaling a major announcement on the horizon.

Pritzker’s third-term bid is historic. He would be the first Illinois governor to pursue a third term since Republican Gov. Jim Thompson, who served four terms from 1977-1991. Illinois places no term limits on governors, and Pritzker continues to define the state’s Democratic Party, having spent millions of his own money on building up the party. 

In recent years, the governor’s profile has steadily risen on the national stage. He was floated as a running mate for then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2020 election cycle.  

The governor has also taken increasingly bold stances on national issues. He has championed abortion access, lobbied aggressively for the Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago, and has spoken out sharply against President Donald Trump. Pritzker said his role as Illinois governor gives him the “bully pulpit” to speak out against Trump. 

TRUMP ‘HANDCUFFED’ 2028 MAGA SUCCESSORS TO HIM WITH IRAN ATTACK

“The bully pulpit that I get as governor gives me the opportunity at least to speak to what I think that our common American values are, and we are the center of the country, the heart of the country,” Pritzker said. “So it gives me that opportunity to talk about what I think is happening in the country and the dangers that I think we’re facing.”

His pending announcement will come amid broader political shifts as longtime Democratic figures such as Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL)  have announced their retirements, leading Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton to eye Durbin’s Senate seat.