Overview
- JB Pritzker was projected the winner Tuesday when the Associated Press and other outlets called the race shortly after polls closed, giving him an unprecedented third consecutive term for a Democrat.
- Early returns showed Pritzker with a large lead as results began coming in, and multiple outlets reported he led by roughly 154,000 votes within an hour of polls closing.
- Pritzker heavily self-funded his campaign and outspent opponents, using that advantage to highlight his record on issues such as a higher minimum wage, reproductive rights protections, and infrastructure spending.
- Darren Bailey campaigned on tax relief and cost-of-living measures including a temporary suspension of the gas tax, and he carried President Trump’s endorsement but failed to overcome Democratic vote strength in Chicago and Cook County.
- The win preserves Democratic control of statewide offices, elevates Pritzker’s national standing through increased fundraising and visibility, and could shift where he focuses time and resources over the next year.