As the Democratic Party grows increasingly concerned about President Biden’s age and ability to serve, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been touted as a potential replacement candidate for the party in the 2024 presidential election.
With Pritzker having won re-election in November to serve an additional four-year term leading Illinois, he is keeping his options open regarding future political endeavors.
Pritzker has an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion, which means he could sufficiently fund a campaign for president on his own. And with the support of those within his state, as well as the connections he’s established with other prominent members of his party nationwide, Pritzker’s chances of winning the White House – should he decide to run – aren’t very bleak.
“He would run for two good reasons,” said Republican Ray LaHood, who served as secretary of transportation during former President Obama’s first term in the White House. “He’s a billionaire who’s not afraid to spend his own money, and he’s very progressive, which is where the Democratic Party is today.”
Pritzker brushed off speculation he might pose a political challenge to Biden, who for months has said that he intends to run for re-election in 2024. Regarding Biden’s age, Pritzker told The New York Times, “I think it assumes a lot of things about someone who’s 80 in this world today. No kidding, you know, 80 is a lot different today than it was in the ’80s.”
Stressing the importance of coming together as a party, Pritzker, as he looks ahead to 2024, told the Times that unity would be the sole driving force in preventing former President Trump or another Republican, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, from winning the White House.
With recent policy initiatives from Pritzker, including a plan to give children additional access to mental health treatment and his signing of a bill to expand paid leave for workers, some voters could be persuaded into tossing their support behind Pritzker for a higher office.