Democrat · Illinois governor · 2026
JB Pritzker
Pritzker came to politics with the Hyatt hotel family's surname and a career in investing and philanthropy.
Biography
JB Pritzker grew up with a mother who advocated civil rights and abortion rights, an influence he cites in explaining his own politics.1 He comes from the family behind Hyatt hotels and built a career in business and philanthropy before becoming governor.2 He and his wife, MK, have been married for more than 30 years and have two children.3
Before becoming governor, Pritzker helped create 1871, a nonprofit Chicago business incubator that supports entrepreneurs building new companies.4 He also worked with survivors to help establish the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.1 His support for early childhood education began years before his governorship, and he joined Duke University's board of trustees in 2017.14
First elected governor in 2018 and reelected in 2022, Pritzker signed the 2019 legislation that gradually raised Illinois' standard minimum wage to $15 in January 2025.35 In 2023, he signed legislation allowing covered employees to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave annually for any reason.6
He is seeking a third term against Republican Darren Bailey, with independent Collin Corbett also on the ballot.2 His campaign emphasizes household costs, healthcare access, education and abortion rights.7 His running mate is Christian Mitchell, a former state representative and deputy governor.8
Record and controversies
Property tax finding and repayment
A 2018 Cook County inspector general's investigation concluded that disabling toilets in a Pritzker property helped obtain about $330,000 in property tax benefits through a scheme to defraud taxpayers.9 In April 2019, The Daily Line reported that the inspector general confirmed Pritzker had repaid the money as promised.9 His campaign told the Sun-Times that the property had been bought for renovation and that counsel had led the reassessment and prepared the affidavits.10 This account describes an administrative investigator's conclusion and the tax repayment, rather than a criminal judgment.9