COOK COUNTY, Ill. (WGN) — Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is not ready to retire.
On Monday, her 78th birthday, Preckwinkle announced she’ll seek a fifth term to lead the nation’s second-most populous county.
"I’m running for reelection because I love my job," she said. "If I didn’t run for reelection, I’d just find a different job and I doubt that I could find one that’s as interesting and challenging and as important as this one."
Among the challenges, according to Preckwinkle: President Trump. His administration is suing in the state, city and county for failing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts. Preckwinkle is also navigating the impact of federal spending cuts.
"Any changes in Medicaid funding — and the only changes proposed are reductions — will have a real impact on us. So we’re going to have to figure out how to deliver the great care that we’ve been providing in a very different environment," she told WGN.
Preckwinkle praised Gov. JB Pritzker as a good partner, especially during the difficult early days of COVID-19. But as she gears up for reelection, she’s keeping her distance from Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom she backed in the 2023 runoff election.
"You know, I try to stay in my lane," she said when asked of the mayor’s job performance. "I’ve got a lot on my plate in the county."
Preckwinkle also serves in the powerful role of county Democratic Party Chair. In that job, Preckwinkle and her lieutenants control the party slating process and a massive campaign war chest.
Paul Vallas, the failed Chicago mayor candidate now serving as policy advisor for the right-leaning Illinois Policy Institute, wasted no time blasting Preckwinkle. Vallas, who insists he’s still a Democrat, wants voters to remember Preckwinkle backed Johnson for mayor, Kim Foxx for top prosecutor and she supported a primary challenge to the Circuit Court Clerk.
"Johnson is mayor because of Toni Preckwinkle. Kim Foxx was elected twice as State’s Attorney, as Cook County States Attorney, with I think disastrous consequences, because of Toni Preckwinkle. Iris Martinez is no longer in the clerk’s office providing us with the information we need to know how effective these pre-trial release programs are because of Toni Preckwinkle," Vallas said.
Preckwinkle becomes the first political heavyweight to announce 2026 plans. She’s likely trying to get her reelection business out of the way as we wait to learn the intentions of Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pritzker and others.
Preckwinkle previously served four terms in the Chicago City Council.
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