Latest news with #Stratton
Axios
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Axios
What Pritzker's running mate pick says about his national plans
Gov. JB Pritzker made his reelection bid official on Thursday, but stopped short of introducing a new running mate now that current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is running for U.S. Senate. Why it matters: With rumors swirling that Pritzker could run for president in 2028, his new running mate could be next in line to ascend to the governor's mansion. What they're saying:"I wanted to set a standard for my successors that if you desire to hold this office, you must be first in line to sing our state's praises and last to belabor her shortcomings," Pritzker said Thursday. I want it to be the expectation and not the exception that if you want to be Governor of Illinois, well then you better love her like she deserves." Context: If Pritzker won reelection in 2026, it would not prohibit him from running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028. He could hold onto the governor's seat while running for the White House, or he could step aside and give the job to the lieutenant governor. State election law says the lieutenant governor would take over as governor until the next election cycle. Flashback: It's only been since 2014 that the candidates for governor and the lieutenant governor have run together. Before that, the elected offices were split on the ballot. Zoom in: Since Democrats have a slew of statewide officeholders, the list is long on possible replacements for Stratton. Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have all won statewide elections and could be big draws for a Pritzker ticket. Yes, but: If they ran for lieutenant governor, they could not run for reelection for their respective offices, which are all on the ballot in 2026. This could create an opportunity for the Illinois GOP to swoop in and win a statewide office, which they currently do not hold. The intrigue: It's not just the statewide offices factoring into who might be interested for the state's No. 2 job. The Chicago mayoral race takes place in early 2027, and Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is rumored to be kicking the tires on a potential run. Between the lines: Pritzker could also go with a lesser-known Democrat as his running mate, much like he did by choosing Stratton in 2018, who was a fresh state representative from Chicago. Current Deputy Gov. Andy Manar and former Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell are two possible names. Also, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, who ran unsuccessfully for Secretary of State in 2022. The bottom line: Pritzker's reelection campaign has started, but the domino effect for Illinois Democrats could shuffle names on the 2026 ballot.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pritzker expected to announce campaign for third term as Illinois Governor on Thursday
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — Governor JB Pritzker is expected to announce his campaign for a third term as Illinois Governor on Thursday. Multiple sources told WGN and the Nexstar Capitol Bureau that Pritzker has campaign announcement events scheduled for different parts of the state on Thursday. Pritzker has largely been noncommittal when talking about his political future. If he wins, he will be the first Illinois Democratic Governor to ever serve more than two terms. Former Republican Governor Jim Thompson previously served three terms. Pritzker defends Illinois' immigration laws to congressional committee Close allies of the Governor would not say whether he was definitively running or not, but they said they hope he does. 'The governor turned around a state that had a bond rating just barely above junk status, thanks to former Governor Rauner, who ran the state into the ground, didn't pay her bills, and has delivered several balanced budgets since he's been in office and raised our rating a bond rating significantly,' U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said in an interview Tuesday. 'I am, like everyone else is, waiting to see if he decides to run for reelection. And if he does, I will support him.' More recently, Pritzker has faced criticism on two fronts — the state's immigration policies and the increases in state spending that has happened under his watch. The state's budget climbed above $55 billion this year. Republicans roundly criticized it for being almost a $14 billion increase in the budget since before Pritzker took office. Pritzker's office defends that increase by attributing it to a combination of inflation and increases in mandated spending, like on education, pensions and other essential programs. State audit finds IL massively overspent on undocumented immigrant health care program Pritzker's national profile has exploded in recent years, as he has become a top critic of President Donald Trump. The Illinois Governor was viewed as a potential replacement candidate for Democrats when Former President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in 2024, and he has only continued to fuel speculation about his presidential ambitions since. Pritzker has spoken at numerous Democratic party events in other states, continued to be a vocal critic of the Trump administration and overall just tried to expand his image beyond Illinois. Pritzker's partner on the campaign trail the past two cycles, Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton, is on her own campaign now. She is running to replace Senator Dick Durbin in the U.S. Senate. Gov. Pritzker endorses Stratton's run for Senate 'Whatever he decides to announce, I'll leave that up to him,' Stratton said. 'But all I can speak to is our partnership which was, and continues to be, a partnership of deep mutual respect. I love working alongside of him and I can say he's the best governor in the United States.' Seeing that Stratton won't be joining him on the ticket, Pritzker needs to pick a new running mate. That choice would be important if he does move on to a different office, since they would be first in line to take over governing Illinois. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pritzker to announce reelection bid Thursday: sources
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGN) — The most dominant figure in Illinois politics wants to stick around a while longer. Gov. JB Pritzker is running for re-election, sources tell WGN News. He's scheduled multiple campaign-style events this Thursday to kick off his campaign for a third term. The primary is next March, with the general election to follow in November. 'Illinois has never had a Democratic governor win for a third term so this would be a first. That said, Republicans have with of course the famous Big Jim Thompson.' The announcement addresses Pritzker's short-term future while questions about his national ambitions linger. If he's successful in 2026, will he run for president in 2028? 'It means he will in a couple of years have of a lot of questions from the press and people saying, 'What are you really after?' But look, he wouldn't be the first governor who is reelected and then shifts their eyes toward the presidency. That kind of thing happens every election cycle.' Pritzker sticking around avoids a Democratic party succession fight. The billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortunate has pumped at least $350 million of his own money into his and other campaigns in Illinois. The Lt. Governor, Juliana Stratton, will not be joining Pritzker seeking a third term. She's running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate where national topics are on her mind. 'Women are taking to the streets, saying it's important that we protect our reproductive freedom, but look at this: we need to restore Roe v. Wade,' she said. With Stratton eyeing federal office, Pritzker must now find a new running mate. Sources say he's come up with a shortlist that includes State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth and Deputy Governor Andy Manar. Pritzker is not expected to name his pick this week. 'Whatever he decides to announce, I'll leave that up to him,' Stratton said. 'But all I can speak to is our partnership which was, and continues to be, a partnership of deep mutual respect. I love working alongside him and I can say he's the best governor in the United States.' The Pritzker campaign has not responded to a request for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Observer
6 days ago
- General
- Observer
Japan, US, Philippines stage unified maritime training exercise
ON BOARD THE ASANAGI, Japan: Helicopters buzzed in the shadow of a smouldering volcano and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan's southwest shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have pushed Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States. This week marked the second time the countries' coast guards have held training drills together, and the first in Japan. They took place over five days off the coast of Kagoshima, where Sakurajima volcano dominates the skyline, quietly puffing out smoke and ash. Dozens of personnel took part, with Friday's final exercises featuring one vessel from each of the three countries' coast guards. They included the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was provided to the Philippines by Japan through a loan agreement. The 2,265-ton vessel, named after a schoolteacher and revolutionary, usually monitors Chinese boats in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea also routinely face off around disputed islands. On Friday, Manila accused China of using a water cannon on two of its fisheries department boats as they attempted to resupply Philippine fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The US Coast Guard was represented in the exercises by the cutter Stratton, which can carry up to 170 personnel, and Japan by the 6,000-ton Asanagi. Friday's drills began with a simulation of a person falling overboard. Once the dummy, wearing a bright red lifejacket, was in the water, a US drone was launched from the Stratton, circling high above as it scanned the area. A small Philippine rescue boat then emerged from the Teresa Magbanua, zipping across the water before coast guard personnel fished the dummy out of the water. Other rescue scenarios enacted included a Japanese helicopter racing from shore to pull a human subject from the sea. — AFP
The Hindu
7 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Japan-U.S.-Philippines coast guards simulate crisis amid China threat
Helicopters buzzed in the shadow of a smouldering volcano and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan's southwest shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have pushed Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States. This week marked the second time the countries' coast guards have held training drills together, and the first in Japan. They took place over five days off the coast of Kagoshima, where Sakurajima volcano dominates the skyline, quietly puffing out smoke and ash. Dozens of personnel took part, with Friday's final exercises featuring one vessel from each of the three countries' coast guards. They included the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was provided to the Philippines by Japan through a loan agreement. The 2,265-ton vessel, named after a schoolteacher and revolutionary, usually monitors Chinese boats in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea also routinely face off around disputed islands. On Friday, Manila accused China of using a water cannon on two of its fisheries department boats as they attempted to resupply Philippine fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Man overboard! The US Coast Guard was represented in the exercises by the cutter Stratton, which can carry up to 170 personnel, and Japan by the 6,000-ton Asanagi. Friday's drills began with a simulation of a person falling overboard. Once the dummy, wearing a bright red lifejacket, was in the water, a US drone was launched from the Stratton, circling high above as it scanned the area. A small Philippine rescue boat then emerged from the Teresa Magbanua, zipping across the water before coast guard personnel fished the dummy out of the water. Other rescue scenarios enacted included a Japanese helicopter racing from shore to pull a human subject from the sea. The helicopter's rotor blades whipped up the calm blue waters, where the occasional small hammerhead shark could be seen idly swimming alongside the Asanagi. The exercises concluded with a simulated collision and fire, with all three coast guards blasting the stricken vessel with their water cannons. Trust-building Japan Coast Guard official Naofumi Tsumura said the joint exercises had "built mutual understanding and trust". "More than anything, we have strengthened coordination and cooperation between us," he said. In 2024, the three countries issued a joint statement that included strong language aimed at Beijing. "We express our serious concerns about the People's Republic of China's (PRC) dangerous and aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea," it said, describing "dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels". They also expressed "strong opposition to any attempts by the PRC to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea". This week's joint exercises were the first since the statement was released. Tsumura said there were small details that could have worked better and vowed to improve in future collaborations. He said the three countries' coast guards had "come to understand each other better, or as the Japanese often say, to know each other by face". "I believe we are now able to conduct maritime rescue operations more effectively," he said.
