COLUMBUS, Ohio ― There was a wave of shock among Democrats, and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker found himself at the center of it.

President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance had raised serious concerns regarding his capability to defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.

Pritzker, a fellow billionaire businessman turned politician, recognized that Trump was on the verge of reclaiming power at a particularly precarious moment for the nation.

“Here we are, just a few months from the election, grappling with the crucial question: How do we save ourselves?” Pritzker posed to the Ohio Democratic Party during their annual event on a humid July day.

Pritzker urged Democrats to overcome their fears.

“If we stop fretting about being labeled as woke and instead focus on truly waking people up,” he asserted. “If we embrace the chaos as a necessary path forward: we will emerge victorious.”

Pritzker had a definitive role in the Biden-Harris campaign, working tirelessly over the past year to reconnect with disillusioned Democrats, frustrated blue-collar workers, and skeptical independents.

He campaigned for Biden in Iowa during a time when the president, having removed the state from the early Democratic primary list, was particularly unpopular. From his position in Illinois, he found it easy to connect with pivotal states like Michigan and Wisconsin. He established a group advocating for abortion rights to enhance his outreach across western and southern states.

Pritzker used his financial skills and extensive network to fundraise for Biden, all while hinting at a potential presidential run for himself. His efforts were rewarded when Chicago was selected to host the Democratic National Convention, giving him a larger platform to present his achievements as a governor.

However, he now found himself in a state of uncertainty. Democrats were immobilized, and funding opportunities were dwindling. “Many people thought it was nearly impossible for us to win this election,” remarked former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Pritzker “encouraged us to look beyond that.”

Despite the insightful nature of his statements, Pritzker was unaware of the tumult that was about to unfold.

Within hours, Trump would face gunfire at a campaign event, and a week later, a COVID-stricken Biden would step down from the Democratic ticket, dramatically altering the 2024 election landscape.

Biden officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor, a surprising turn that allowed Democrats to rally and unify around a new candidate.

“It seems people have calmed their nerves, and now, we have a strong candidate, bringing everyone together,” Pritzker stated in an interview in Chicago.

Still, for the first time since his gubernatorial campaign, Pritzker faced inquiries about his own political ambitions.

And he found himself with less than a month to resolve his thoughts while preparing for a presidential nominating convention.

Pritzker: Biden’s Key Supporter in the Midwest

Pritzker didn’t require much persuasion to get on board with the convention plans.

His journey into politics began in the summer of 1984, when he volunteered for Walter Mondale’s campaign at his first Democratic National Convention in San Francisco, recalling his enthusiasm for such events.

“I called JB and shared a bold idea. What do you think, I asked?” recalled Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, co-chair of Biden’s and now Harris’ campaign. “He instantly replied, ‘Absolutely.’”

Chicago has a rich history of hosting Democratic conventions, having done so nearly a dozen times, including the last one in 1996 when former President Bill Clinton was seeking reelection, and a tumultuous one in 1968 when protests against the Vietnam War led to public confrontations with the police. This time, party officials are adamant that the situation will be different.

From the beginning, the process faced challenges. The city had to present a $30 million irrevocable letter of credit to cover the host committee’s nearly $85 million financial responsibility – a record for such events – while persuading party leaders to choose Chicago over contenders like Atlanta, Houston, and New York.

The Democratic fundraiser and heir to the Hyatt Hotel empire understood the stakes. He contributed $1.2 million to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 convention, which made him the largest donor at that event.

“JB is very competitive; there’s no way he would let anything fail,” noted Chris Korge, a fellow bundler who has collaborated with Pritzker since his time co-chairing Clinton’s 2008 campaign.

Pritzker hosted the search committee at his mansion in Chicago, where comedian Jim Belushi entertained them. During their tour of the United Center, they were treated to a simulated balloon drop.

“They spared no expense,” remarked Korge, who serves as the DNC’s finance director and chairs the Biden-Harris Victory Fund.

Other cities made impressive bids as well. Atlanta offered personalized Hawks jerseys, and New York hosted a Broadway performance. However, Democrats believed that Illinois made the most sense from a policy perspective.

Democrats hold all major statewide positions and maintain supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Pritzker has pushed for initiatives aiming to reach 40% renewable energy in Illinois by 2030 and to establish the state as a safe haven for individuals seeking reproductive and gender-affirming care from outside the state.

In his first year as governor, he enacted laws to increase the minimum wage. Following the Highland Park shooting, Illinois prohibited assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in 2023.

“He knows how to seal the deal,” remarked Illinois Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who served as a senior adviser to Pritzker during his initial term. “When people consider walking away from negotiations, he has a talent for bringing them back.”

Pritzker had one final person to convince: Biden.

“Whenever I met with the president, whether it was at the White House or here, I typically started by saying, ‘Good to see you, Mr. President,’ followed by, ‘We’re having the convention in Chicago, right?’” Pritzker recounted.

The effort proved successful. Biden personally notified Pritzker that the convention would indeed take place in Chicago.

However, by that point, it would be Kamala Harris, not Biden, accepting the nomination. Pritzker found himself in a challenging position once more.

An unexpected shift in the race

Pritzker’s first interaction with Harris came when he was campaigning for governor, and Harris, then a U.S. senator from California, reached out to offer her support.

Originally from a family rooted in Chicago, Pritzker, aged 59, was born near Palo Alto. His father, Donald, relocated the family to California to manage Hyatt House, which allowed the Pritzkers to grow their hotel empire.

Pritzker is well-educated, boasting qualifications from Georgetown, Duke, and Northwestern universities. After returning to Chicago, he teamed up with his brother Tony to establish an asset management firm. Their older sister Penny went on to serve as Commerce Secretary under President Barack Obama and played a crucial role in expanding the family business.

Pritzker has significantly expanded his wealth, reaching a net worth of approximately $3.5 billion, as reported by Forbes. He has been a strong supporter of various political initiatives.

His parents, both of whom passed away when he was young, were firm advocates for social equity. Pritzker recalls marching with his mother, Sue, in support of progressive causes during his childhood.

“You either get that from your upbringing or your environment. I’m not exactly sure which influenced me more, but that’s the way I was raised, and that’s what I stand for,” he expressed during an interview.

Pritzker experienced a setback in a congressional primary back in the 90s. However, after observing Hillary Clinton’s defeats, he was motivated to pursue higher office himself. Eventually, he successfully ran and won both the governor’s election and his reelection campaign.

Meanwhile, Harris was reaching out again. This time, she aimed to gather support for her emerging presidential campaign before her competitors could announce their own intentions.

Throughout this period, Pritzker had been particularly reserved. He provided a statement regarding Biden’s departure from the race, yet it stopped short of endorsing Harris.

“I was receiving calls from various individuals, and I was listening to their perspectives about our direction,” Pritzker remarked. “How are we going to beat Donald Trump – and what strategy will we have moving forward?”

As the Republican convention approached, Pritzker intensified his criticisms of Trump, which caught the ex-president’s attention. Trump made derogatory remarks about Pritzker’s weight and financial skills.

Pritzker responded sharply. “Wow, a convicted felon is criticizing me and Milwaukee in the same breath. Is it because we’re both hosting conventions for people who can’t stand him?”

He understood he wouldn’t be able to vie for the Democratic nomination against the first Black, female, and Indian American vice president. “Do you really think I just fell off a coconut tree?” he joked in a post on X the next day, referencing a popular meme featuring Harris.

Pritzker noted that it became “quite clear within just a few hours” that Harris would be the nominee, as he mentioned in the interview.

Despite that, he still wanted to consult with current and former leaders of the party. “And I was eager to hear from Kamala Harris,” he remarked.

Following their conversation, Pritzker publicly declared his endorsement.

“We only had about 120 days, I believe, to campaign against Donald Trump and emerge victorious,” he later stated. “We couldn’t afford a major conflict among Democrats.”

An unpretentious billionaire

Pritzker’s allies urged that he be considered for the vice-presidential nomination instead.

Michael Sacks, the chairman of the convention host committee, along with business leaders from Chicago, wrote a letter to Harris encouraging her to select him. Illinois-based abortion rights advocates lent their support as well.

Pritzker, through his nonprofit efforts, had been promoting ballot initiatives in states like Nevada, Arizona, Montana, Florida, and others, where activists are striving to safeguard reproductive rights.

“This is a priority he’s held for his entire life,” remarked Sarah Garza Resnick, CEO of Personal PAC.

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But would a billionaire serve as an appealing vice president to the American people?

“He’s probably the least pretentious billionaire you’ll ever meet,” commented Budzinski, an early advisor to Pritzker during his gubernatorial campaign and currently a member of Harris’ advisory team.

The profound grief from losing his father to a heart attack at age seven and his mother’s struggle with alcoholism, who passed away when he was just 17, had a significant influence on Pritzker’s political views.

“I knew people were surprised that a wealthy individual could hold such a thorough and progressive agenda for Illinois,” Pritzker shared with around 850 active members of the Ohio Democratic Party in mid-July. “But in reality, I enjoy being underestimated.”

He invested an almost limitless amount of funds in his inaugural gubernatorial campaign, making it one of the priciest in U.S. history.

“My friends believed I was out of my mind to run for governor. Truthfully, the Democratic Party wasn’t exactly clamoring for a white, Ukrainian-American, Jewish billionaire,” Pritzker recalled.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton recalled meeting Pritzker while she was serving in the Illinois House of Representatives. They dined in a restaurant within her district, and she did not realize she was being considered as his running mate.

“I just thought it was impressive that he actually came to my district to listen to me,” she reflected.

Pritzker often has a way of making people see beyond his wealth.

“He’s the same whether the cameras are rolling or not,” said Harris during a 2022 rally in Chicago where she supported their reelection.

In response to the tragic shooting of Sonya Massey, an unarmed Black woman with a mental health condition by a deputy near Springfield in July, Pritzker urged the sheriff to step down.

He dedicated nearly an hour to meeting with Massey’s family, attentively listening as her parents and children shared their grief. He committed to working alongside the state attorney’s office to ensure an open investigation, according to civil rights lawyer Ben Crump. Under his administration, Illinois passed a police reform bill in 2021, and he assured the family that he would sign any new legislation created in her honor.

“Governor Pritzker aimed to make it clear that he was actively listening to the community’s concerns, ensuring their voices were acknowledged,”

“without trying to hide it in any fashion,” said Crump, who is representing the family and was in attendance at the meeting.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, who leads the Senate Judiciary Committee, accompanied Pritzker during his initial campaign and was quite impressed. Durbin commended Pritzker’s handling of the pandemic, which involved a stay-at-home order that Republicans challenged in court.

“Simultaneously, his qualifications regarding our state’s finances would satisfy any conservative benchmark,” Durbin noted.

Pritzker’s time in office has faced its share of hurdles. He faced criticism for traveling to his horse farm in Wisconsin while a stay-at-home order was in effect.

When Texas’ Republican governor sent migrants to Chicago, he mentioned his great grandfathers’ journey from Ukraine in 1881. However, the state soon faced overwhelming demands on its resources. He sent a letter to President Biden sharply criticizing his administration’s inaction.

Pritzker has positioned himself as an influential ally for Biden in the Midwest, and he could play a similar role for Harris.

“Gov. Pritzker has achieved sensible victories for the citizens of Illinois, establishing both himself and the state as leaders in safeguarding women’s reproductive rights, empowering workers, and defending our children against gun violence,” stated Harris campaign spokesperson Charles Lutvak. “He has been a vital collaborator with President Biden and Vice President Harris, as well as a supporter for our candidates nationwide.”

Pritzker pointed out that both rural and urban residents share the same worries: managing expenses, securing better employment, saving for retirement, and affordable access to education and vocational training.

“Democrats align more closely with those values compared to Republicans,” he insisted.

A New Governor on the Scene

He missed out on joining the vice-presidential selection. Now, there’s a new governor in place.

Harris chose someone else as her running mate – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is a former congressman, teacher, military veteran, and high school football coach.

Pritzker expressed his support, referring to Walz as a “dependable leader who embodies the dedication and warmth of a Midwesterner,” and pledged to assist in his election.

Now the onus is on Walz to capitalize on the groundwork that Pritzker invested years to rebuild for Democrats.

Pritzker focused heavily on Wisconsin, donating $2.5 million in the lead up to 2020 and contributing $1 million to aid liberals in taking control of the Supreme Court in 2023.

Wisconsin, which swung for both Trump and Biden, appears poised to once again influence the outcome of the presidential race.

He utilized billboards to attribute the decline of Roe v. Wade to “MAGA extremists” during Trump’s nomination in Milwaukee. He was also a featured speaker at the Wisconsin Democrats’ annual convention in early June.

“Delegates were buzzing about his speech for weeks after, as he has a unique talent for attacking Trump and MAGA while maintaining a friendly demeanor,” said Wisconsin Party Chair Ben Wikler.

In the Republican-leaning state of Ohio, he supported a move aimed at securing abortion access. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s seat is crucial for a 2024 victory, and Pritzker believed that Democrats could present a competitive front with the right messaging.

“I won’t pretend otherwise. He mentioned being a billionaire, and that made me tune out initially because I don’t fit his typical support base,” shared Emma Mirles-Jones, an attorney from Delaware, Ohio, who attended his speech in July. “But then I realized I actually am part of his target audience, and it was genuinely enjoyable to hear him speak.”

Pritzker’s Current State

Pritzker indicated that he plans to stay in Illinois at least until early 2027, as rumors surfaced that he was not on Harris’ final shortlist.

“I definitely will for the next two and a half years, as I have two and a half years left in this term,” he explained to YSL News.

Illinois law permits Pritzker to seek re-election. He joked that it would be his wife MK who determines when he’s had enough.

Pritzker expressed his desire to see initiatives like universal pre-K materialize. He recently announced a quantum computing campus, which he claims will attract $20 billion in investments to Illinois. His vision? To transform Illinois into a hub for new technology akin to Silicon Valley.

“Completing the projects you’ve started is a significant undertaking,” Pritzker remarked.

His second term is set to conclude in early 2027, a fitting moment for him to embark on a presidential campaign.

He has been laying the groundwork for this goal over the past few years, even while campaigning for reelection in 2022, making visits to Arizona and Nevada.

In March, he found himself in Virginia, preparing for Super Tuesday. He has also actively campaigned in key early voting states, including New Hampshire, and is set to address the state party’s Labor Day breakfast.

Pritzker is working to enhance his credentials in foreign affairs as well. In June, he was the keynote speaker at a summit focused on U.S.-Canada relations. Additionally, he hosted the Prime Minister of Ukraine in Chicago this past April, alongside his sister Penny, who is concluding her role as Biden’s special economic advisor for Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

Having previously participated in the Biden and Harris national advisory boards, he is quite familiar with what a presidential run entails. He initially supported Clinton during her 2008 campaign against Obama and even co-chaired her campaign. (He later reconciled with Obama, who subsequently endorsed Pritzker in his bid for governor.)

During the Ohio Family Reunion, as Biden contemplated his political options, former governor Strickland encouraged Pritzker to think about a 2024 run. Pritzker was a financial backer of Strickland’s campaign and had once stayed at the governor’s mansion. They had maintained their relationship over the years, reconnecting at this event.

Strickland shared, “I mentioned to him that based on how things turn out, I hope he would keep an open mind about taking on other responsibilities.” However, Pritzker seemed uninterested in pursuing that line of conversation.

Democrats believe Pritzker wouldn’t abandon a potential third term just to be part of a Harris administration. However, he might follow in his sister’s footsteps or even accept an ambassadorship in Europe.

That is, if Harris secures victory.

If Harris loses to Trump or chooses not to run again, Pritzker could still have an opportunity to pursue the presidency in 2028.

So, where does this leave Pritzker? He remains in a state of uncertainty. For now, his focus is on showcasing memorabilia from previous conventions.