A historical milestone for Democrats in the Illinois governor's mansion
In short: JB Pritzker didn't just win a re-election; he broke a decades-long cycle of political instability. By securing a second term, he became the first Democratic governor in state history to complete two full terms, overcoming a legacy where every previous predecessor died, resigned, or was removed.
The 2022 Illinois gubernatorial election saw incumbent Democrat JB Pritzker secure victory with 54.9% of the vote on November 8, 2022. Despite achieving his greatest raw percentage for a Democratic governor since 1960, data reveals a shift: his lead shrunk from 15.7% during 2018 to 12.5% by 2022. The win was anchored by a lopsided performance in Cook County and its surrounding collar counties, which house the majority of the state's population.
The election also highlighted significant geographic shifts. Republican nominee Darren Bailey managed to flip five counties—Alexander, Fulton, Jackson, Knox, and Winnebago—that Pritzker had previously won. Conversely, Pritzker achieved a rare feat by flipping McLean County; it was the first time since 1948 that the county voted for a Democratic governor. Bailey's performance also improved over former Republican Governor Bruce Rauner's 2018 results by just under 4%, a shift attributed in part to the lack of a strong third-party conservative candidate during this cycle.
The historical weight of Pritzker’s victory lies in his tenure. Following Rod Blagojevich in 2006, he became the initial Illinois governor to finish a full term and win reelection for another. Upon finishing his present term, he enters a unique category: becoming the first Democratic governor in Illinois history to complete two back-to-back four-year terms. Every previous Democratic governor who won a second term was either impeached and removed, died, or resigned before their time expired.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Illinois gubernatorial election
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