In the aftermath of the Biden administration’s collapse and the overwhelming rejection of Kamala Harris in the last election, the Democratic Party is desperately searching for a new figure to lead them into the 2028 presidential race. One name pushing his name in contention is Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. But here’s some unsolicited advice to Democrats: Don’t walk, run away from him.

As someone who lived in Illinois for most of my life, I feel qualified to weigh in. I’ll skip the fat jokes, mostly. The real issue isn’t Pritzker’s appearance; it’s his track record, ethics, and motivations.

Let’s start with the numbers. There are 102 counties in Illinois, yet only 13 voted for Pritzker. So how did he win? The answer lies in Cook County, home to Chicago, where 40% of the state’s population resides. Most of them vote Democrat. Without the backing of Chicago’s iron fisted political machine, Pritzker wouldn’t hold office. It’s no wonder movements have emerged advocating for the separation of Chicago from the rest of Illinois.

People are leaving Illinois in droves. Under Pritzker’s leadership, Illinois has seen a mass exodus. At one point, a resident was leaving every 9 minutes and 21 seconds (Illinois Policy Institute). Many cite high taxes, and poor governance. Crime is another frequently cited reason for the exodus. The middle class is being squeezed out while the state’s financial health continues to deteriorate.

Pritzker didn’t build a fortune – he inherited one. Pritzker inherited his $4 billion fortune from the Hyatt Hotels empire founded by his family. He spent $323 million of his own money across two gubernatorial campaigns, plus an extra $24 million to the Democratic Governors Association. That’s nearly a third of a billion dollars for a position that pays under $180,000 per year. Who spends that kind of money without expecting something substantial in return?

His ethics are, at best, questionable. Pritzker’s ethics are murky at best. One widely reported example: He had toilets removed from a $3.7 million Gold Coast mansion in Chicago to classify it as uninhabitable and dramatically lower its tax bill (NPR). The result? A $330,000 tax refund. Meanwhile, the contractor hired to remove the toilets, Bulley & Andrews, later received a $9 million COVID-related contract from the state, even though the hospitals involved were never used (Illinois Policy Institute).

During the lock-downs, he told residents to stay home, while his family vacationed in Florida. And while people in Illinois were losing jobs and businesses, construction crews were working on his horse farm in Wisconsin.

Pritzker’s budget keeps growing, but the state’s debt isn’t shrinking. According to the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, Pritzker’s proposed 2026 budget stands at $55.2 billion, a 38% increase from his $40 billion budget in 2019. The Institute criticized the budget for using temporary revenue shifts to justify unsustainable spending increases (Illinois Policy Institute). All this while Illinois remains buried in debt.

And now he’s eyeing the national stage. Despite the issues plaguing his home state, Pritzker appears more focused on his national image. In a fiery April 2025 speech in New Hampshire, he proclaimed, “These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace… We must castigate them on the soapbox and then punish them at the ballot box.” He also accused Trump allies of being “bootlickers” and “idiots.”

This rhetoric mirrors Donald Trump’s approach: bold, combative, and designed to draw media attention. But instead of offering policy clarity or unifying leadership, Pritzker delivers partisan bluster.

He claims to be a businessman but governs like a political insider. He mocks Elon Musk and Trump for “running government into the ground,” but his own performance doesn’t inspire confidence. Calling for a return to Biden-era policies probably won’t help his national appeal either. He seems to think inheriting billions of dollars qualifies him for running a country. Stating he would like to return to the Biden-era policies could not possibly endear him to voters either.

Democrats should look elsewhere before it’s too late. Though I’m no guaranteed supporter, someone like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would be a far more competent candidate. If the party is serious about regrouping, rebuilding, and reconnecting with working-class voters, JB Pritzker is not the answer. His tenure in Illinois is marred by bloated budgets, ethically questionable decisions, and hollow partisanship. If the party is serious about reconnecting with working-class voters, they’d be wise to bypass JB Pritzker.