Governor J.B. Pritzker formally launched his campaign for a third term as Governor of Illinois the last week of June. While many predicted he would run for reelection, it left open the question of who would join him on the ticket. Current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, replacing longtime Senator Dick Durbin.
That question was answered on Tuesday, when Pritzker announced that former Deputy Governor Christian Mitchell will be his running mate for the 2026 campaign. Mitchell served as one of four deputy governors during the governor’s first term, focusing on environment, infrastructure, and public safety issues. He oversaw major initiatives, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act and the Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan. Prior to that, Mitchell represented the Chicago-based 26th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019 and served as executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois for the 2018 election cycle. Mitchell left the Pritzker administration in early 2023 to become Vice President for Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago, where he leads government relations and civic partnerships.
Pritzker’s selection for lieutenant governor is particularly important given widespread speculation about a potential Pritzker presidential run in 2028. Assuming Pritzker wins reelection next year, Mitchell would be in line to step into the governorship for the remainder of the term if he were to win the presidency in 2028.
Important Upcoming Dates – Statewide
October 14-16 – Veto Session Week 1
October 28-30 – Veto Session Week 2
In the News
Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate is a fellow Chicagoan, but says he will ‘represent all of Illinois’ – Chicago Tribune, July 3, 2025.
“When you’re a state rep, you don’t just represent the people in your district. You are also are voting on things that are good for people all across the state,” Pritzker said, standing next to Mitchell by a case of sweet drinks and cake in the crowded restaurant. “We have passed bills that have been highly beneficial to job creation, expansion of health care, funding of education for people who live in — whether it’s Anna, Carbondale or Quincy or Champaign.”
Top candidates for US House in Illinois’ 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th – Chicago Tribune, July 2, 2025.
The domino effect that began in late April with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s announcement that he wasn’t seeking a sixth term has caused two members of Congress — U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg — to declare their interest in Durbin’s seat. That means their spots in Congress are opening up. In addition, much of the north and northwest suburbs will see their first new members of Congress in nearly three decades as U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky is retiring at the end of her term.
State ends fiscal year with record revenue – Capitol News Illinois, July 2, 2025.
Illinois closed fiscal year 2025 with record $54 billion in revenue. While that marked a surplus from the enacted budget, the extra revenue was anticipated when lawmakers approved the current-year budget in May. It doesn’t give lawmakers any extra breathing room for an expected volatile fiscal year 2026.
Optimism among Illinois business leaders takes a nosedive – Chicago Business, July 3, 2025.
Illinois business owners’ optimism about the U.S. economy has dropped sharply this year, with uncertainty clouding the bullish expectations they brought into 2025. JPMorgan Chase’s midyear Business Leaders Outlook Pulse survey showed 37% of middle market executives in Illinois were optimistic about the national economy, down from 61% in January.
State Rep. Hoan Huynh joins crowded race to replace Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky – Chicago Sun Times, July 2, 2025.
State Rep. Hoan Huynh, the first refugee and Vietnamese American elected to office in Illinois, on Wednesday joined a crowded field of competitors to replace outgoing Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
Stratton raises $1M in U.S. Senate Bid – Crain’s Chicago Business, July 1, 2025.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton says she’s raised just over $1 million in her campaign for the U.S. Senate.
New Illinois laws taking effect July 1: What you need to know – KSDK, July 1, 2025
Starting July 1, dozens of new Illinois laws will take effect, impacting everything from worker pay and education policy to public health and criminal justice. Also included is the state’s gasoline tax hike, increasing by 3% beginning this Tuesday.
Gov. JB Pritzker taps Cristian Mitchell as lieutenant governor pick in campaign for third term – Chicago Sun Times, July 1, 2025.
Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday announced former Hyde Park state representative and deputy governor Christian Mitchell will join him at the top of the ticket as his lieutenant governor candidate in his bid for a third term.
Here’s how President Trump’s mega tax bill would impact Illinois – Chicago Sun Times, June 30, 2025.
The Joint Economic Committee projects 163,674 people in Illinois would lose Affordable Health Care Act coverage and 335,000 would lose Medicaid with passage of the current President Trump-backed measure.
Gov. JB Pritzker is running for reelection. Who will he pick as his No. 2? – Chicago Tribune, June 30, 2025.
Among those who likely top the list are Andy Manar, the former downstate state senator and Pritzker’s current deputy governor on budget issues; Christian Mitchell, a former state representative from Chicago and ex-deputy governor for Pritzker; state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria, who was previously a lead budget negotiator in the House; and state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez of Cicero, chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Illinois U.S. senator opposes ‘life-changing’ school choice legislation – The Center Square, June 29, 2025.
A provision in the bill would allow donors to lower their tax liability by donating to accredited scholarship-granting organizations, with a credit up to $5,000 or 10% of their adjusted gross income. Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, expressed his opposition in a Senate Spotlight forum last week. “I don’t think there were many, if any disabled children in my Catholic schools and very few minority students, and I’m wondering what happens with these young people who are disabled,” said Durbin.
IL political leaders react to Supreme Court limiting lower court rulings – The Center Square, June 28, 2025.
Illinois political leaders are sounding off on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling curbing nationwide injunctions over executive orders restricting birthright citizenship.
The high court didn’t decide the issue of birthright citizenship but in its 6-3 ruling Friday limited the lower court rulings to apply only to those who sue to block Trump’s order. A group of Democrat-led states sued along with expectant mothers and immigration organizations who filed suit. Among them were Illinois.
Drive-by shooting in Chicago leaves 4 dead and 14 others wounded, police say – The Daily Herald, July 2, 2025.
The shooting happened late Wednesday in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Several media outlets said it happened outside a restaurant and lounge that had hosted an album release party for a rapper. Someone opened fire into a crowd standing outside, police said, and the vehicle immediately drove away. No one was in custody, police said.
‘Historic levels’ of Illinoisans will pack the roads, airports this holiday weekend – The Daily Herald, July 2, 2025.
AAA predicts “historic levels” of 4.2 million Prairie Staters will make a trip between June 28 and Sunday, 2.5% more than in 2024.
Editorial: Financial hits keep on coming, and City Hall’s only response is excuses – Chicago Tribune, July 2, 2024.
City coffers finished 2024 short by $161 million, according to a final 2024 audit made public Monday, forcing the administration to dip into the city’s “unassigned funds” account to keep its books balanced. That account typically holds hundreds of millions and is used for unforeseen expenses.
Audit reveals Chicago blew through a key budget reserve in 2024 – Crain’s Chicago Business, June 30, 2025.
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s financial team sought to downplay the consequences of the move in a briefing with reporters ahead of the audit’s release. The action makes the tightrope that Johnson must walk, while facing down projected billion-dollar deficits and federal funding cuts, even flimsier.
Sharp drop in arrests, other long-term crime trends shown in new Cook County data dashboard – Chicago Tribune, June 30, 2025.
Throughout 2019, Chicago police officers made nearly 80,000 arrests before scaling them back significantly during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the following spring.
Now five years later, that drop appears not to be just a COVID-era blip: In recent years, arrests have rebounded slightly, but annually police still are recording tens of thousands of fewer arrests than they did in 2019.
‘Stand up for our hometowns’: Suburban mayors slam transit proposal – The Daily Herald, June 29, 2025.
The Suburban Mayors Coalition for Fair Transit criticizes new taxes proposed in a bill approved by the state Senate to avert a $771 million shortfall facing Metra, Pace and the CTA in 2026.
Mayor Brandon Johnson to pick new Chicago Housing Authority CEO soon – Chicago Tribune, June 28, 2025.
The new CEO will be tasked with rebuilding residents’ trust, boosting staff morale and addressing safety and environmental concerns at its properties while shepherding more housing developments in a city where housing has become increasingly less affordable.
