If you’re looking up who is the Illinois governor right now, the name you’re going to find is JB Pritzker. He’s been in the seat since 2019, and honestly, it feels like he’s been the face of Illinois politics for an eternity at this point.
Pritzker isn't just some career politician who climbed the ladder through city council meetings and statehouse backrooms. He’s a billionaire. Like, a "Hyatt Hotels heir" kind of billionaire. That fact alone makes him one of the most interesting—and polarizing—figures in the Midwest.
Whether you love his progressive policies or can't stand the sight of a state tax bill, there's no denying he’s reshaped Illinois in a way few others have.
The Man Behind the Desk
Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker is the 43rd Governor of Illinois. He’s a Democrat. He first grabbed the win back in 2018, beating out the incumbent Republican Bruce Rauner. Then he did it again in 2022, securing a second term by a pretty healthy margin.
People often forget he actually tried to run for Congress way back in 1998. He lost that one. Badly. He came in third in the primary. It took him another two decades to really find his footing in the electoral game, but once he did, he went big.
He lives in the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, though he spends a massive amount of time in Chicago, which makes sense given his deep roots in the city’s business and tech scenes.
The Money Situation
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the cash.
As of early 2026, Forbes pegs Pritzker’s net worth somewhere around $3.9 billion.
He’s officially the wealthiest elected official in the United States.
💡 You might also like: Air Pollution Index Delhi: What Most People Get Wrong
Funny enough, he doesn't even take his state salary. The job pays about $205,700 a year, but he’s passed on that every single year since he took office. He basically works for free, at least in terms of a government paycheck.
Of course, when you’re worth billions, $200k is basically lunch money. He’s also put a lot of his assets into a blind trust to avoid "obvious" conflicts of interest, though critics still keep a very sharp eye on where his family’s money is moving.
What Has He Actually Done?
You can’t talk about who is the Illinois governor without looking at the laundry list of laws he’s signed. Illinois has moved significantly to the left under his watch.
One of the biggest moves lately was the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which he signed in January 2026. Basically, it’s a massive plan to beef up the state's power grid. It lifts the old ban on new nuclear plants and pumps money into "virtual power plants" and battery storage.
If you live in Illinois, you’ve probably noticed the minimum wage hikes, too. He pushed for a gradual increase that’s been hitting $15 an hour.
Then there’s the controversial stuff.
📖 Related: Why Trump's West Point Speech Still Matters Years Later
- The Assault Weapons Ban: Pritzker signed this in 2023, and it’s been tied up in legal battles ever since.
- Reproductive Rights: He’s made Illinois a sort of "oasis" for abortion access in the Midwest, which has brought a lot of out-of-state patients across the borders.
- Fiscal Credit Upgrades: Believe it or not, Illinois actually saw its credit rating go up multiple times under Pritzker. For a state that was the poster child for "broke" for a decade, that’s a big deal.
The 2026 Election: Is He Staying?
Since we’re currently in 2026, the big question isn't just who is the Illinois governor, but who is it going to be next year.
Illinois doesn't have term limits.
In June 2025, Pritzker officially announced he’s running for a third term.
If he wins this November, he’ll be the first Illinois governor to get a third consecutive term since Jim Thompson back in the 80s. He’s running on a platform of "protecting Illinois from chaos," which is his way of positioning himself against the national GOP.
Who is challenging him?
It’s not an empty field. On the Republican side, you’ve got names like Darren Bailey (who ran against him in 2022) and Ted Dabrowski making noise.
The race is looking like a classic Chicago-vs-Downstate showdown.
One weird wrinkle this time around: his longtime Lieutenant Governor, Juliana Stratton, is running for U.S. Senate. This means Pritzker had to pick a new running mate, landing on Christian Mitchell, a former state rep and deputy governor.
Why This Matters to You
If you’re a resident, Pritzker’s decisions hit your wallet and your daily life directly.
He’s been aggressive about workforce development—Illinois was recently ranked #1 in the Midwest for it.
👉 See also: Johnny Somali AI Deepfake: What Really Happened in South Korea
But it’s not all sunshine. The state still has a massive pension debt that looms over everything. While the credit upgrades are nice, the underlying math for the state’s long-term finances is still pretty scary.
He’s also been dealing with the fallout of federal policy shifts. In late 2025, he issued executive orders to protect things like vaccine access and healthcare funding because he was worried about changes coming out of D.C.
Actionable Takeaways for Illinoisans
If you want to stay on top of what the Governor is doing, here’s how you actually track it without getting lost in the noise:
- Check the Executive Orders: Most of the big changes happen here before they even hit the news. You can find these on the official Illinois.gov site.
- Monitor the ICC Rulings: If you’re worried about your power bill, keep an eye on the Illinois Commerce Commission. Pritzker’s new energy bill gives them a ton of power over how much ComEd and Ameren can charge you.
- Register for the Primary: Since it’s 2026, the primary is right around the corner in March. If you want a say in whether Pritzker gets that third term, that’s where the real fight happens.
- Watch the Manufacturing Grants: If you're looking for work or training, the state just opened up $24 million for new Manufacturing Training Academies. These are specifically for "downstate" regions, not just Chicago.
JB Pritzker is a complex figure. He’s a billionaire who fights for unions. He’s a Chicagoan who spends half his time trying to convince farmers he cares about them. Love him or hate him, he’s the guy holding the pen in Springfield for the foreseeable future.
To stay updated on the upcoming election cycle, you should verify your voter registration status through the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Paying attention to the fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, which usually drops in February, will also give you the clearest picture of where your tax dollars are headed next.