Monday, I had the honor of being sworn in as Illinois’ 43rd governor.

I was proud to share my vision to work together to create another century of boundless opportunity and fulfill our state’s possibility and promise.

At 200 years old, Illinois is still a young promise. Our time here has been but a blink. In 2019, we must begin a new century with new maturity – and enough foolishness to believe we can make a difference.

Our history is a story of leaps forward and occasional stumbles back – and a promise renewed with each generation that we will try harder, that we will do better, that big breakthroughs are built of centuries of selfless effort by unheralded heroes. That big change rides on what we can do together, not what one person attempts alone.

That’s the Illinois I see – one of possibility and promise. That’s the Illinois I know, one whose people are fearless and audacious. That’s the vision I have for our state – another century of boundless opportunity.

Thank you, Illinois, for your faith in me. I promise to live up to it every day. Together, let’s go into this new century with enough faith to help each other out of our troubles, with enough foolishness to believe we can make a difference in the world, and with enough kindness to find the courage to change.

JB Pritzker