J.B. Pritzker Pours $14M Into Illinois Governor Race

By Nathan Guttman July 19, 2017

In what is already shaping up to be the most expensive gubernatorial race in Illinois’ history, two billionaires are pouring in millions from their own pockets, leaving competitors far behind.

According to second quarter funding reports, Democrat J.B. Pritzker has invested $14 million in self-funding, giving himself a significant advantage over his rivals in the crowded Democratic primary race.

Pritzker, an heir to the owners of the Hyatt hotel chain who has made his own fortune as a venture capitalist, is a well known figure in the Chicago political scene. The Pritzker family members are top donors to Democratic campaigns on the local and national levels. J.B. Pritzker served as Hillary Clinton’s national co-chair in 2008 and his sister Penny served as commerce secretary in the Obama administration.

The other Jewish candidate in the Democratic gubernatorial race, Daniel Biss, came in second in the fundraising race, with only $1 million raised during this quarter.

On the Republican side, sitting governor and fellow billionaire Bruce Rauner managed to raise $20 million in the second quarter, and, since he is not in a primary race, Rauner does not have to spend yet any of his $67 million war chest. Most of Rauner’s campaign is also self-funded.

Contact Nathan Guttman at guttman@forward.com or on Twitter @nathanguttman

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO