SZALINSKI’S SUMMARY: Gov. JB Pritzker’s running mate, Christian Mitchell says the Pritzker campaign is taking Republican Darren Bailey’s candidacy seriously, looking to make things more affordable for Illinoisans and keeping an eye on progress toward clean energy goals.

Mitchell took part in a Zoom interview with our team, which we’ll publish in full on our YouTube page Friday morning.

KEY QUOTE: “I absolutely view Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar as real opponents for a couple of reasons,” Mitchell said. “One is they’re on the ballot, and they’re going to be running hard, and there’s going to be a lot of money probably coming in from the outside in opposition. And I think that at the end of the day, they have a very extreme agenda that would take Illinois backward.”

AFFORDABILITY AGENDA: Democrats think they have the high ground on the affordability issue. Economic concerns helped propel President Donald Trump back to the White House in 2024, but they persist more than a year later — especially as gas prices rise because of the war in Iran.

WHY IT MATTERS: Pritzker’s been preaching affordability since shortly after Trump was re-elected. In Illinois, Mitchell believes there will be a clear contrast between Pritzker’s and Bailey’s affordability promises.

THE FLIP SIDE: Republicans think they can capitalize on the issue too. They say Pritzker has failed to address high property taxes and subpar economic growth. Mitchell said Pritzker has plans, such as increasing state funding for public education to help lower local property taxes.

“There’s always going to be more to do and myself and JB are listening to people about what more we can do,” Mitchell said.

PROVE IT: Listening more and talking less is a promise Bailey made in an effort to woo voters in Chicago, a city he famously derided as a hellhole four years ago. But Mitchell said he isn’t buying the pledge.

“When you start looking at those positions, voters are going to see your rhetoric is over here, but what you want to do for us is over here and it would take us backward,” Mitchell said of Bailey.

ENERGY PRICES: As deputy governor, one of Mitchell’s signature accomplishments was shaping the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which bans carbon-emitting power sources in Illinois beginning in 2045. Republicans say that goal is driving up energy costs. Mitchell acknowledged bringing down utility bills must be part of any affordability agenda. But asked if he still believes the state is on track to meet its 2045 goal, Mitchell punted.

“The thing that makes that a little bit more difficult has been some of the actions of the federal government,” he said. “They have canceled wind projects, solar projects.”

PRITZKER’S POWER: Mitchell said the success of candidates backed by Pritzker on Tuesday — including Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in her race for the Democratic Senate nomination — shows Democratic voters care about his endorsement.

“What really sticks out to me is that the governor finds and supports good, smart people who want to do better for the people of Illinois,” Mitchell said. Rep. Margaret Croke is also leading the race to be the Democratic comptroller nominee.

BLACK CAUCUS: But Pritzker’s effort to fund Stratton, a Black woman, also ruffled feathers in the Congressional Black Caucus. The caucus preferred their incumbent member, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Lynwood, and its members are still wary of Pritzker’s involvement. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat in the caucus, told Politico Pritzker must “justify what he did.”

Mitchell said he wasn’t concerned: “At the end of the day, the story is the Congressional Black Caucus is getting a new member. Juliana Stratton is going to be a fantastic fighter inside the CBC.”

“I was a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus,” he said. “And obviously we had members who would occasionally run for things, and members tend to support their friends, people they know, and they want to see them do well, and I don’t begrudge them that at all.”