J.B. Pritzker’s upcoming speech for Wisconsin Democrats fuels speculation over presidential aspirations

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Gov. J.B. Pritzker at the podium before President Joe Biden delivers a speech at The Old Post Office on June 28, 2023 in Chicago.
<p>Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans to talk about the threat to “fundamental freedoms” that another Donald Trump presidency poses to the country in a speech before the Democratic Party of Wisconsin next month, as he further expands his political footprint outside of Illinois.</p><p>The party plans to host Pritzker as a keynote speaker for its annual state convention in Milwaukee on Saturday, June 8. Other Democratic speakers at the two-day convention include Wisconsin’s U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan, D-Wisc., and Gwen Moore, D-Wisc., and Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison.</p><p>“Wisconsin Democrats are experts at winning high-stakes elections and in 2024 everything is on the line,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Donald Trump presents an existential threat to fundamental freedoms — from abortion rights to voting rights — and Wisconsin Democrats are ready for the fight. I intend to stand shoulder to shoulder with Democrats from across Wisconsin at their convention in Milwaukee in June.”</p><p>Pritzker has made a concerted effort to keep the battleground state blue. In 2023, he contributed $1.1 million to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and $20,000 to support Janet Protasiewicz, who was elected a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice last year. He has also personally contributed to Evers’ gubernatorial campaign.</p><p>Pritzker’s earlier out-of-state campaigning included speaking before state Democratic party leaders in<a class="Link" href="https://ift.tt/VwQM7Zk&quot; target="_blank" > New Hampshire</a> and Florida in 2022, fueling speculation that he was plotting a presidential run in 2024. Since then he’s repeatedly tamped down questions about his presidential ambitions, while simultaneously showing his allegiance to President Joe Biden.</p><p>Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are viewed as 2028 Democratic presidential contenders. </p><p>All three are helping to fight anti-abortion efforts across the country. Newsom’s super PAC Campaign for Democracy last month began airing TV ads in Alabama to highlight the dangers of abortion limits. Pritzker’s nonprofit <a class="Link" href="https://ift.tt/GEuTcl9&quot; target="_blank" >Think Big America is helping to fund ballot initiatives</a> in Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Montana. And Whitmer’s Fight Like Hell PAC helped fund Ohio’s ballot initiative last year, and is supporting Democratic Senate candidates.</p><p>Pritzker has close relationships with neighboring Midwestern Democrats Whitmer, Evers and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and frequently chats with them about policy — hydrogen hubs and multi-state endeavors among the topics — as well as Blue Wall politics. </p><p>Pritzker is a surrogate to Biden’s campaign and played a key role in bringing the Democratic National Convention to Chicago in August. The governor’s former political director, Quentin Fulks, is also Biden’s deputy campaign manager.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center>
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May 30, 2024 at 08:14AM

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