DECATUR, Ill. – Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has secured a third term in office after defeating Republican challenger Darren Bailey in Tuesday’s general election.
The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed Tuesday evening.
Pritzker, who first took office in 2019, becomes the first Democrat in Illinois history to win three terms as governor. He previously defeated Bailey in the 2022 election, winning approximately 55% of the vote.
Illinois does not impose term limits on its governors, allowing Pritzker to seek another four years in office.
His victory also makes him the first Illinois governor to win a third term since Republican James R. Thompson, who served from 1977 to 1991. Thompson remains the longest-serving governor in state history.
Pritzker has also been mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028, although he has not announced plans to enter the race. Illinois law would allow him to pursue the presidency while continuing to serve as governor.
Former Illinois State Representative Christian Mitchell joined Pritzker on the Democratic ticket and is set to become the state’s next lieutenant governor.
Pritzker’s third term will begin in January 2027.
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