Gov. J.B. Pritzker is pictured in a July 2023 file photo. (Jerry Nowicki / Capitol News Illinois)
With Vice President Kamala Harris conceding the race for the White House, Illinois Democrats who’d served as surrogates for her on the campaign trail weighed in for the first time on her loss.
“This morning, our most vulnerable communities woke up to new uncertainty about their future, scared that their rights will no longer be protected, and unsure whether this nation still stands with them,” Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement Wednesday afternoon following Harris’ concession speech. “To women whose healthcare is under even greater threat, to our Black, Brown and AAPI communities, our LGBTQ friends and their families, immigrants and first-generation Americans, our most vulnerable Americans and those with disabilities, to all who have been made to feel unsafe and unwelcome by the Trump campaign and its allies - know that Illinois is your ally. You will always be welcome here.”
Harris won Illinois’ 19 electoral college votes, but President-elect Donald Trump won a greater share of Illinois residents’ support this time around than in his two previous runs.
As of Wednesday afternoon, with approximately 95% of the vote calculated, Harris claimed 53.4% of the vote in Illinois, to Trump’s 45.2%.
That roughly 8-percentage-point difference is a significant drop from the roughly 17 percentage points that separated Trump from both Hillary Clinton in 2016 and President Joe Biden in 2020.
Earlier Wednesday, the head of the Illinois Republican Party, Kathy Salvi, highlighted the “significant inroads” made by Trump in Illinois.
“Illinois made massive strides last night, reflecting the foundation we are building to bring in new voters and compete with the billionaire governor and his band of cronies in Springfield,” Salvi said in a statement. “President Trump’s administration brought us prosperity 4 years ago and will do so again by securing our border, bringing down the cost of living for families, and protecting our individual liberties.”
It’s a stark contrast to the reaction from Democrats like U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, who said she is “deeply, deeply disappointed” by the election results, but that in contrast to the Republicans who unjustly tried to subvert Trump’s loss in the presidential race four years ago, she “will uphold the will of the American people, fulfill our constitutional duty and do our part to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.”
“Vice President Harris should be proud not only of her campaign, but also of helping reestablish the quintessential American tradition of accepting the results of our elections. In this country, party loyalty must never take priority over the oath we swore to support and defend our Constitution,” Duckworth said in a statement that went on to give assurances she will use her role to defend Americans’ rights, “because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that my buddies and I didn’t sign up to defend our democracy in warzones thousands of miles away only to watch it crumble in hallowed halls back at home.”
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton struck a similar theme in her statement.
“This is what democracy looks like and it is a testament to the infrastructure we are building in our state to continue the good work of preserving our freedoms, uplifting working families, and protecting the values we hold so dear,” Stratton said. “To every Illinoisan who is mourning the outcome of this election, do not try to wash away your pain; let it transform into the motivation we need to realize an America that does not idolize hate but uplifts its people. Today we mourn; tomorrow, we show up again. Because as Madam Vice President said, ‘The fight for our country is always worth it.’”
In a statement, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson pledged to be a mayor “who will not bend, who will not break when it comes to protecting our city, our values, and our neighbors.”
“To anyone in our city who is viewing these results with dismay, worry, or grief, I pledge to you that I will never back down in my duty to protect and advocate for the people of Chicago, especially those who have been marginalized or demonized,” Johnson said. “It is my responsibility and the responsibility of all elected officials to protect the rights and freedoms of our constituents and to lead with vision and conviction. Chicago will continue to move forward, and we will do so while staying true to our values.”
Pritzker was key to bringing the Democratic National Convention to Chicago over the summer and was in contention to be Harris’ running mate.
He said he ran for governor in 2017 because of the “threat” that Trump posed to Illinois.
“As governor, I have helped enshrine into state law protections that uphold our common Illinois values,” Pritzker said in a statement. “That work will continue, and it remains my north star. I will always strive to do what is best for the people of Illinois. When that means working with the next presidential administration that is what I will do, and when that means standing up to it, I believe my record is clear on where I’ll be.”
Pritzker founded a political action committee funded with his personal fortune, the Think Big America PAC, after Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices were instrumental in reversing the right to abortion previously protected by Roe v. Wade.
Think Big spent millions in nine states — Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York and South Dakota — that Tuesday had questions on the ballot about abortion access.
The reproductive rights protection or expansion questions succeeded in six of the states (Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York) where Think Big America was involved.
But Nebraska voted to enshrine abortion restrictions in the state constitution; a Florida amendment to reverse the state’s six-week abortion ban and to guarantee abortion rights didn’t clear the 60% approval threshold; and AP results show that 58% of South Dakota voters said “no” to a constitutional right to an abortion.
“Women’s rights are about to face unprecedented attacks under Donald Trump and his MAGA allies,” Think Big spokeswoman Christina Amestoy said. “We know the fight for reproductive freedom is just beginning and we will not stop until abortion access is guaranteed for every woman, regardless of zip code.”
Contact Amanda Vinicky: @AmandaVinicky | [email protected]
