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US Politics

Pritzker wins a third term as Illinois governor, beating Republican Darren Bailey

The Democrat is mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, and the Washington Examiner reports he has not said whether he will run.

6 news outlets reported this
Liberal2 outletsA third term and a possible 2028 launchpadCenter1 outletA projected win and a possible 2028 runConservative3 outletsPritzker's win, his words, and the 2028 question
Published 3 min read
Overview

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, won a third term on Tuesday, beating Republican Darren Bailey in a rematch of their 2022 race. NBC News projected the win, and The Hill reported a projection from Decision Desk HQ. Breitbart News and the Washington Examiner say the Associated Press called the race.

The Center Square reports that Pritzker was ahead by as many as 250,000 votes at 8:15 p.m. It also reports that Bailey, who was endorsed by Trump, had not appeared to concede an hour after the call. The Hill and the Washington Examiner say Bailey's 2022 defeat was by more than 12 percentage points. According to The Center Square, Pritzker spoke at Navy Pier in Chicago.

It says he told the crowd that Bailey "ran hard and gave it his all," and urged more unity in settling political disputes between the two men. PBS NewsHour quotes him telling supporters that "maybe, just maybe, something is stirring in the conscience of America." NBC News, The Hill and the Washington Examiner describe him as a possible 2028 presidential contender.

The Washington Examiner says he has not said whether he will run. The Center Square says he will become the third Illinois governor to hold office past two terms, and the only Democrat to do so.

Key figures
  • as many as 250,000 votes Pritzker's lead by 8:15 p.m., per The Center Square — The Center Square

Three sides of the story

Liberal2 outlets

A third term and a possible 2028 launchpad

NBC News leads with its projection that Pritzker "clinched a third term," and quickly turns to what it could mean: a public platform for a 2028 presidential bid. It recounts his pushback on Trump's attempts to send the to Illinois and on immigration operations, and Trump's remark that he belonged in jail, to which Pritzker replied that Trump should "come and get me." NBC also lists the problems Illinois still faces, including persistent gang violence in Chicago, some of the country's highest property tax bills and a failed push for a graduated income tax.

It adds that Pritzker was one of several Democratic governors on the ballot, including Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, who could figure in the next presidential contest. PBS NewsHour headlines Pritzker's own reading of the result, that his reelection shows hope is winning out over fear, and quotes him telling supporters, "It looks like maybe, just maybe, something is stirring in the conscience of America."

Center1 outlet

A projected win and a possible 2028 run

The Hill reports that Pritzker is projected to win a third term, according to Decision Desk HQ, defeating Republican Darren Bailey in Tuesday's rematch. It calls him a possible 2028 White House contender and notes that Bailey lost by more than 12 percentage points in 2022 and that Pritzker ran unopposed in a March primary.

Conservative3 outlets

Pritzker's win, his words, and the 2028 question

The Center Square calls the win easy and reports that multiple media outlets called the race when polls closed. It quotes Pritzker's speech, "Hope and fear are from the same family," and notes that Bailey, the Trump-endorsed candidate, had not appeared to concede an hour later. Breitbart News leads with the result and the AP call, then turns to Pritzker's earlier statements, including calling the Trump administration "the most corrupt presidency that we've seen in our lifetimes," and his expectation that Trump may send and agents to polling places.

It also recalls Bailey's 2022 criticism of the SAFE-T Act. The Washington Examiner frames the win as setting up a possible 2028 run, says Pritzker has not said whether he will run, quotes him saying he will "work my tail off" for a Democratic nominee, and cites Forbes for his $4.2 billion net worth.

All sources: 6 articles from 6 outlets

Liberal (2)

Center (1)

Conservative (3)

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