Pritzker openly contemplates third term during first day of DNC

CHICAGO, Ill. (NESXSTAR) — The Democratic National Convention in Chicago is the party Pritzker’s been looking forward to hosting for over a year. He kicked it off Monday Morning, speaking to Illinois’ delegation at the convention.

“I don’t need to tell you that if we fight hard enough, in 78 days, we will defeat Donald Trump and make real progress for working families across America,” Pritzker said.

He told the crowd to be proud of the strength the party has built up in recent years, while alluding to the struggles the party has seen in the past, specifically with the executive role.

“At just the end of this second term, I will be the longest serving democratic governor in the history of Illinois,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker stayed modest when forecasting how long he would stay at the head of Illinois government.

“I’m not suggesting that I want to try to beat Jim Thompson’s 14 year record,” Pritzker said. “My wife’s not here, and I don’t want to talk to her about this, but she is my term limit, so if all of you want to talk to her, convince her one way or another. By the way, you’re welcome to do that.”

As Democrats’ power in Illinois has become more solidified, Pritzker has broadened his political ambitions.

He’s gone from state to state pushing key progressive policies, and was one of President Biden’s top surrogates on the campaign trail.

Pritzker also made the short list for Vice President Kamala Harris’s VP pick. But after being passed over, the question of what’s next for the billionaire progressive is still up in the air.

Some of Illinois’ top officials want him to keep the job.

“I’m really excited with what he’s done. And the work that he’s done also with the state legislature” Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) said. “The partnership there has really allowed our state to come forward in terms of, you know, being a a bastion for reproductive healthcare, for raising the minimum wage, all the stuff that we’ve done for working families. So I urge him to run again.”

Pritzker’s second term ends in 2026.

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