SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker used primary election night remarks Tuesday to declare himself the Democratic nominee for governor and to frame the coming general election, while Christian Mitchell said he was “so proud to be your Democratic Nominee for Lieutenant Governor.”
Pritzker ran unopposed in the Democratic primary election for governor.
Speaking March 17, 2026, Pritzker thanked supporters and praised Mitchell as “the next Lieutenant Governor of Illinois,” while arguing that “the general election begins right now” and vowing to help Democratic nominees defeat Republicans in November. Mitchell, appearing the same night, described his background and said he joined Pritzker’s administration as a deputy governor in 2019.
Pritzker used his remarks to thank his family, including First Lady MK Pritzker and their children, Teddi and Donny. He also acknowledged Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, saying he was “proud to endorse her U.S. Senate campaign,” and said he had endorsed Margaret Croke for comptroller and Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board president.
Pritzker also outlined policy goals if he and Mitchell win in November, including “a 21st-century housing plan,” efforts to “bring down electric bills” through nuclear and renewable energy production, and steps to “lower the cost of healthcare by cutting prescription drug costs and continuing to eliminate bills for unexpected health emergencies.” He also said he wants to make Illinois “the heart of American innovation in quantum technology.”
In his remarks, Pritzker said, “Tonight, it appears the Republicans have again nominated Darren Bailey as their candidate for Governor,” and criticized Bailey’s positions on the minimum wage, abortion rights and tariffs.
Mitchell, in his own prepared remarks, said he was raised by “a single mom in the west suburbs of Chicago” who worked as “a nurse at Rush hospital NICU.” He said that with “hope, hard work, student loans, and a loving and supportive family,” he went to college, became a community organizer and later a state representative.
Mitchell described first meeting Pritzker after a friend asked him to sit down with him, saying, “I was skeptical. I thought he was just another bored business guy who needed something to do. But he proved me wrong, right away.”
Mitchell praised Pritzker’s record, citing paid leave, a $15 minimum wage, eliminating “billions in medical debt,” lowering the cost of insulin, and passing an infrastructure package “for all 102 of Illinois’ counties.”
