Illinois Legislative News: July 7, 2025
Third Reading Consulting Group
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