Does JB Pritzker have the fundraising chops he thinks he does?
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D-IL) decision to pour millions into Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s (D-IL) Senate bid has become an early test of his political strength ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, particularly after he waded into a high-profile clash with one of the Democratic Party’s most influential blocs.
Pritzker’s $5 million investment in Stratton put him at odds with the Congressional Black Caucus, which backed Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) in the Illinois Democratic primary to replace Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is retiring.
The outcome of the race, and whether Pritzker’s preferred candidate secures the candidacy, is now viewed as a measure of how much sway his money carries beyond his own electoral success.
The CBC has long been viewed as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party, especially in primaries involving black candidates, making the split a notable risk for a governor weighing a national campaign.
In response to Pritzker’s hefty donation, Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY), who is chairman of the CBC, said the governor’s actions could have an enduring effect on his political profile.
“Governor Pritzker’s effort to tip the scales in the Illinois’ U.S. Senate race is beyond frustrating for the Congressional Black Caucus,” Clark said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “A sitting governor shouldn’t be heavy-handing the race. Quite frankly, his behavior in this race won’t soon be forgotten by any of us.”
Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-IL) said Pritzker’s financial influence has reshaped politics in the state.
“There seems to be a tremendous amount of money flowing from Gov. Pritzker to every Democratic position across the state,” McClure said. “His dominance politically right now is all based around the fact he has more money than any governor has ever had in the history of our state.”
That dominance, he added, creates an “amount of not just power, but influence that’s probably unparalleled anywhere else in the country right now.”
But whether that influence translates into decisive political wins, particularly in primaries, remains an open question.
Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois, described Pritzker’s involvement in the Senate race as a revealing test case, noting that his financial backing came relatively late in a race where early voting plays a significant role.
“If he was serious about wanting Stratton to win… he probably should have been sooner,” Gaines said.
Gaines …
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D-IL) decision to pour millions into Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s (D-IL) Senate bid has become an early test of his political strength ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, particularly after he waded into a high-profile clash with one of the Democratic Party’s most influential blocs.
Pritzker’s $5 million investment in Stratton put him at odds with the Congressional Black Caucus, which backed Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) in the Illinois Democratic primary to replace Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is retiring.
The outcome of the race, and whether Pritzker’s preferred candidate secures the candidacy, is now viewed as a measure of how much sway his money carries beyond his own electoral success.
The CBC has long been viewed as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party, especially in primaries involving black candidates, making the split a notable risk for a governor weighing a national campaign.
In response to Pritzker’s hefty donation, Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY), who is chairman of the CBC, said the governor’s actions could have an enduring effect on his political profile.
“Governor Pritzker’s effort to tip the scales in the Illinois’ U.S. Senate race is beyond frustrating for the Congressional Black Caucus,” Clark said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “A sitting governor shouldn’t be heavy-handing the race. Quite frankly, his behavior in this race won’t soon be forgotten by any of us.”
Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-IL) said Pritzker’s financial influence has reshaped politics in the state.
“There seems to be a tremendous amount of money flowing from Gov. Pritzker to every Democratic position across the state,” McClure said. “His dominance politically right now is all based around the fact he has more money than any governor has ever had in the history of our state.”
That dominance, he added, creates an “amount of not just power, but influence that’s probably unparalleled anywhere else in the country right now.”
But whether that influence translates into decisive political wins, particularly in primaries, remains an open question.
Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois, described Pritzker’s involvement in the Senate race as a revealing test case, noting that his financial backing came relatively late in a race where early voting plays a significant role.
“If he was serious about wanting Stratton to win… he probably should have been sooner,” Gaines said.
Gaines …
Does JB Pritzker have the fundraising chops he thinks he does?
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Gov. JB Pritzker’s (D-IL) decision to pour millions into Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s (D-IL) Senate bid has become an early test of his political strength ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run, particularly after he waded into a high-profile clash with one of the Democratic Party’s most influential blocs.
Pritzker’s $5 million investment in Stratton put him at odds with the Congressional Black Caucus, which backed Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) in the Illinois Democratic primary to replace Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is retiring.
The outcome of the race, and whether Pritzker’s preferred candidate secures the candidacy, is now viewed as a measure of how much sway his money carries beyond his own electoral success.
The CBC has long been viewed as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party, especially in primaries involving black candidates, making the split a notable risk for a governor weighing a national campaign.
In response to Pritzker’s hefty donation, Rep. Yvette Clark (D-NY), who is chairman of the CBC, said the governor’s actions could have an enduring effect on his political profile.
“Governor Pritzker’s effort to tip the scales in the Illinois’ U.S. Senate race is beyond frustrating for the Congressional Black Caucus,” Clark said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “A sitting governor shouldn’t be heavy-handing the race. Quite frankly, his behavior in this race won’t soon be forgotten by any of us.”
Illinois state Sen. Steve McClure (R-IL) said Pritzker’s financial influence has reshaped politics in the state.
“There seems to be a tremendous amount of money flowing from Gov. Pritzker to every Democratic position across the state,” McClure said. “His dominance politically right now is all based around the fact he has more money than any governor has ever had in the history of our state.”
That dominance, he added, creates an “amount of not just power, but influence that’s probably unparalleled anywhere else in the country right now.”
But whether that influence translates into decisive political wins, particularly in primaries, remains an open question.
Brian Gaines, a political science professor at the University of Illinois, described Pritzker’s involvement in the Senate race as a revealing test case, noting that his financial backing came relatively late in a race where early voting plays a significant role.
“If he was serious about wanting Stratton to win… he probably should have been sooner,” Gaines said.
Gaines …
0 Comments
0 Shares
34 Views
0 Reviews
