CHICAGO – In November, Illinois voters will choose between two billionaires: Democrat J.B. Pritzker and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Over $65 million was spent between the two to win their party primaries Tuesday, and Illinois voters will have no problem recognizing either name in November. It's pretty well a unanimous opinion that Democrats are energized heading into the General Election, while Illinois Republicans are bracing for tough battles, especially in congressional districts where Hillary Clinton won in 2016 – such as the Peter Roskam's 6th CD.
We'll learn much more about the candidate's emerging strategy as the days move along, but there's no doubt the state's screens will be saturated with more and more ads telling voters why one billionaire or the other should be the choice in November.
In Pritzker's thank you to his supporters, he spelled out the Democrat's focus: "We are fighting for unions and the families they have so tirelessly defended for so long, Dreamers and immigrants of all kinds seeking a better life, women who deserve their seat at the table and to have their voices heard, and black and brown communities who deserve fairness in enjoying the wealth this great nation denied them for so long…"
Rauner's focus will be House Speaker Mike Madigan, with a reminder of his 2014 Turnaround Illinois agenda. "The election in November will be a choice between someone who will stand up to the machine and someone who has long been a part of it. Between someone who will fight for hardworking families and someone who will protect the political insiders," he said in a statement. "Illinois is home. And home is worth fighting for. No one can do this alone. Let’s focus on the issues we agree on – reducing taxes, growing jobs, and ending corruption through term limits…"
