FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2025
Contact: Brad Halbrook

217.717.2780

[email protected]

Gov. Pritzker Launches Reelection Bid – But Illinoisans Are Asking: Will Pritzker 3.0 Be Any Better Than 1.0 and 2.0?

Statement from State Representative Brad Halbrook:

Governor JB Pritzker just announced his bid for a third term, promising to “Keep Illinois Moving Forward.” But after nearly seven years of heavy-handed policies, out-of-control spending, and a steady stream of misleading claims, Illinoisans aren’t buying it.

In his campaign video, Governor Pritzker talks about solving problems and standing up for working families. The reality? His administration has created more problems than it’s solved – and Illinois working families are paying the price.

Under Pritzker’s watch:

• Illinois has the worst outmigration in the Midwest, with over 100,000 residents fleeing the state just last year.

• Our taxes remain among the highest in the nation, while Pritzker boasts about “relief” that’s little more than election-year gimmicks.

• Crime continues to plague our communities, with Chicago holding the unwanted title of murder capital of the U.S.

• Small businesses are suffocating under mandates, fees, and regulatory overreach.

• And despite all the fiscal fanfare, Illinois' debt load and pension crisis remain unresolved, as Pritzker papered over problems with federal bailout funds.

The governor’s so-called “balanced budgets” conveniently ignore the unsustainable growth of state spending and his refusal to implement long-term structural reforms. Credit rating upgrades are good, but they don’t mean much when families still can’t afford groceries or utilities in Pritzker’s Illinois.

And let’s not forget: Governor Pritzker has governed through executive fiat, abusing emergency powers, bending rules, and enriching politically connected non-profits with taxpayer dollars while calling it “investment.”

While he brags about economic development, Rivian EV batteries are catching fire, Caterpillar and other major employers have packed up and left, and Illinois ranks near the bottom in business climate and job growth.

JB Pritzker claims he’s fighting “chaos in Washington,” but he has ignored the chaos he’s fueled right here at home – in our schools, in our courts, and in our cities.

Pritzker 3.0 isn’t a reboot. It’s a rerun. And Illinoisans are tired of it. Tired of the Pritzker tariffs on freedom, affordability, and opportunity.

We don’t need more promises. We need a new direction – one rooted in fiscal responsibility, public safety, and respect for working families and small businesses. Illinois can’t afford another four years of the same broken politics.