Pritzker undecided on third term, fueling speculation about 2028 presidential bid

CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told an interviewer, “I have not decided if I’m running for reelection” on Tuesday, fueling speculation that he may consider a 2028 run for president.

Pritzker was speaking to NBC Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern, who asked him about his plan to skip a meeting with the Cook County Democrats this week, a move traditionally seen as preparing for the 2026 campaign cycle.

When asked if the move would open the possibility of not seeking a third term in the Governor’s Office, Pritzker replied, “Well, that’s because that’s a possibility.”

Pritzker has emerged as one of the Democrats’ most vocal opponents of President Donald Trump. He was under consideration to be former Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024.

Pritzker has also done numerous interviews on national broadcasts since Trump was sworn in, increasing his visibility as one of Trump’s most vocal critics. 

The billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune also launched a pro-abortion organization, “Think Big America,” that provides funding for ballot measures in other states seeking to codify abortion access.

Lesser known than other potential 2028 contenders, Pritzker drew national attention in February when he used a joint budget and State of the State address to make the case for a parallel between Trump’s rhetoric and the rise of Nazi Germany.

Since then, the divide between Pritzker and other Democratic governors, particularly those potentially eyeing the party’s 2028 presidential nomination, has only widened.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently sat for a one-on-one meeting with Trump as she seeks to find “ common ground ” with him. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched a podcast in which he had friendly conversations with Trump loyalists, including Steve Bannon.

Pritzker will speak at the New Hampshire Democrats’ McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner on April 27 in Manchester, delivering the keynote address at a fundraiser traditionally seen as an early indication a candidate’s political aspirations.

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced he was going to run for the Republican nomination for Illinois Governor in the March 2026 primary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.