JB Pritzker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids JB Pritzker
Official portrait, 2019
43rd Governor of Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office January 14, 2019
Lieutenant	Juliana Stratton
Preceded by	Bruce Rauner
Chair of the Illinois Human Rights Commission
In office April 1, 2003 – July 26, 2006
Governor	Rod Blagojevich
Preceded by	Rose Jennings
Succeeded by	Abner Mikva
Personal details
Born	Jay Robert Pritzker (1965-01-19) January 19, 1965 (age 60) Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	M. K. Muenster ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	2
Parent	Donald Pritzker (father)
Relatives	Pritzker family
Residences	Governor's Mansion Springfield, Illinois
Education	Duke University (BA) Northwestern University (JD)
Occupation	Politician businessman
Signature

Jay Robert Pritzker (born January 19, 1965) is an American businessman and politician. He is currently the 43rd governor of Illinois, serving since 2019.

Pritzker is part of the well-known Pritzker family, who own the Hyatt hotel chain. He has started many businesses that invest in new companies, including the Pritzker Group.

Before becoming governor, Pritzker was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. He became the Democratic candidate for governor of Illinois in the 2018 election. He won against the Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, and started his term on January 14, 2019. Pritzker was reelected in 2022.

Early Life and Education

Pritzker was born in Palo Alto, California, on January 19, 1965. His parents were Donald Pritzker and Sue Pritzker. The Pritzker family is a Jewish family with roots in Ukraine. They are famous for their businesses and charity work.

Pritzker's grandfather, Abe Pritzker, was a business lawyer. The Pritzker family has often been listed among America's richest families. Donald Pritzker, his father, was the president of Hyatt Hotels. He passed away in 1972.

Pritzker grew up in Atherton, California. He went to Milton Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts. He then studied political science at Duke University. In 1993, he earned his law degree from Northwestern University School of Law. He is a lawyer and a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.

Business Career

Pritzker has helped many new businesses grow. He was the chairman of ChicagoNEXT, a group that helps with innovation and technology in Chicago. He also started 1871, a place where new digital companies can get started.

With his brother Tony, Pritzker co-founded Pritzker Group Private Capital. This company owns and runs many medium-sized businesses. These include PECO Pallet, which rents out pallets, and Clinical Innovations, which makes medical devices. In 2008, Pritzker received an award for helping to create jobs and grow the economy.

Early Political Work

Working in Washington D.C.

In the 1980s, Pritzker worked for U.S. Representative Tom Lantos and U.S. Senators Terry Sanford and Alan J. Dixon. He focused on trade and transportation issues. After working in Washington D.C., Pritzker started an organization called Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century. This group aimed to get younger voters interested in the Democratic Party.

1998 Election for Congress

In 1998, Pritzker ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 9th district. This district included parts of Chicago and suburbs like Evanston and Skokie. It was known for having many liberal voters.

Pritzker spent a lot of his own money on his campaign, including for TV ads. He finished third in the Democratic primary election.

State and National Politics

From 2003 to 2006, Governor Rod Blagojevich appointed Pritzker to lead the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

In the 2008 presidential election, Pritzker was a national co-chair for Hillary Clinton's campaign. He also attended the Democratic National Conventions in 2008 and 2016. He supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election.

In 2017, a recording from 2008 was released. In it, Pritzker and Blagojevich talked about Pritzker possibly being appointed to a state office. Pritzker said he was interested in being state treasurer. Pritzker stated that he had not done anything wrong and was not accused of any wrongdoing. He later apologized for some comments he made during that conversation.

Governor of Illinois (since 2019)

Pritzker meeting with President Donald J. Trump in 2018

President Joe Biden and Governor Pritzker in 2021

Elections

2018 Election

On April 6, 2017, Pritzker announced he would run for governor of Illinois. Many groups supported him, including the Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and several labor unions.

His running mate was Juliana Stratton. Pritzker spent $42 million of his own money on his campaign. On March 20, 2018, he won the Democratic primary election. On November 6, 2018, Pritzker defeated the Republican governor, Bruce Rauner, in the general election. He won by a large amount.

Pritzker spent $171.5 million of his own money on his campaign. He became Illinois's 43rd governor on January 14, 2019. At that time, he was the richest politician in the U.S. His second term began on January 9, 2023.

2022 Election

In June 2021, Pritzker said he would run for reelection. He won the Democratic primary on June 28 and defeated Republican candidate Darren Bailey in the November 8 general election.

State Budget and Spending

On June 5, 2019, Pritzker signed a balanced budget for the 2019–20 fiscal year. This budget was for $40 billion. It included more money for the U.S. Census. To pay for this, there were some tax increases. The state also offered a "tax amnesty" program, allowing people to pay old taxes without penalties.

Child Welfare and Education

The Rebuild Illinois plan gave $3.2 billion to public colleges and universities. Pictured: Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The 2019–20 budget included more money for education. This included grade schools, community colleges, and state universities. Funding for grade schools went up by almost $379 million. Community colleges received $14 million more, and public universities received $53 million more. Grants for students with low incomes also increased. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services received $80 million to hire new staff and improve services.

The "Rebuild Illinois" plan also set aside $3.2 billion for public colleges and universities over six years. This money was for repairs and maintenance. For many years, Illinois colleges had money problems, and many students left the state for college. Tuition and living costs had doubled at most state colleges since 2003. In 2017, almost half of Illinois high school graduates went to colleges outside the state.

Pritzker also created a group to help students reduce their credit card debts after college. He also started a job training program for community colleges in 2020. In July 2019, he signed a bill requiring state universities to report tuition costs. This helps make college costs more clear.

Climate Change

Pritzker joined the U.S. Climate Alliance. This group aims to reduce harmful gas emissions by over 26% by 2025. This happened after President Donald Trump left the Paris Agreement.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot (left) with Pritzker (right) at a temporary hospital in April 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pritzker took many steps to slow the virus in Illinois.

On March 13, 2020, he announced that all public and private schools would close. On March 15, he ordered bars and restaurants to close, though takeout and delivery were still allowed. On March 20, he issued a stay-at-home order. This meant non-essential businesses had to close, but essential ones like grocery stores stayed open.

Pritzker extended the tax filing deadline and created programs to help small businesses. On April 23, 2020, he extended the stay-at-home order with some changes. Churches were asked to limit gatherings. On May 1, 2020, he made face masks required statewide.

On May 5, 2020, Pritzker announced his "Restore Illinois" plan to reopen the state in five phases. Different regions of the state could reopen at their own pace.

In July 2020, Pritzker announced a plan for what to do if COVID-19 cases went up again. In December 2020, he announced that Illinois would receive many doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. In February 2021, a large vaccination site opened at the United Center in Chicago.

In July 2021, Pritzker required masks in all state buildings. In August 2021, he required masks in schools, daycares, and long-term care facilities. He also announced that state employees in certain facilities needed to be vaccinated. On August 26, 2021, a statewide indoor mask mandate was put back in place. He also required vaccines for all education employees, higher education students, and healthcare workers.

On February 28, 2022, Pritzker lifted most of Illinois's COVID-19 rules, including the mask mandate. In July 2022, he lifted the vaccine requirement for college students.

Gambling

To help pay for his spending plans, Pritzker expanded gambling in Illinois. This included allowing more casinos and legalizing sports betting. This is expected to bring in an extra $350 million in revenue each year. This expansion also included Chicago, which wanted a new casino to help its economy.

Pritzker meeting with President Biden in July 2022

Health Care

In 2019, Pritzker approved a tax on private insurance. This money goes to the state's Medicaid program, which helps people with low incomes get health care.

Immigration

On January 24, 2019, Pritzker signed an order to give immigrants and refugees more access to Illinois welcome centers. These centers help immigrants with things like health care, education, jobs, and legal services.

On June 21, 2019, Pritzker signed a bill that stopped private immigration detention centers from operating in Illinois. Another bill prevents state and local police from helping federal agents deport undocumented immigrants. College students who are undocumented can also apply for state financial aid.

Infrastructure

Six years of transportation projects were planned for Chicago. Pictured: An Amtrak Lincoln Service train leaving Chicago for St. Louis

In June 2019, Pritzker signed the "Rebuild Illinois" plan. This plan is for $45 billion to be spent over six years and is expected to create 540,000 jobs. It was the first major spending plan for infrastructure in Illinois in 10 years. The plan includes money for roads, schools, universities, environmental protection, and broadband internet in rural areas.

To pay for this plan, the gas tax increased from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon. Vehicle registration fees also went up. New casinos are also expected to bring in tax money for construction projects. Pritzker said that Illinois needed this plan because it hadn't had a major infrastructure plan in two decades.

In June 2019, Pritzker sent 200 Illinois National Guardsmen to help with flooding in central and southern Illinois. They helped with sandbagging and keeping evacuation routes open.

Labor

On February 19, 2019, Pritzker signed a bill to raise the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This made Illinois the first state in the Midwest to do so. The bill also includes tax help for small businesses.

On April 12, 2019, Pritzker signed a law that protects the right of workers and employers to bargain together. He also signed a law to help workers exposed to harmful substances. Another bill he signed doubled the money given to families of police officers and firefighters killed on duty.

LGBT Rights

In June 2019, Pritzker signed an order that requires schools across the state to be welcoming to transgender and non-binary students. He also asked the State Board of Education to provide resources on LGBT rights.

Taxation

On the same day as the 2019–20 state budget, Pritzker signed the "Fair Tax" law. This law proposed changing Illinois's flat income tax to a graduated tax system. This means people who earn more would pay a higher percentage in taxes. Pritzker promised that income taxes would not increase for 97% of Illinois residents who make $250,000 a year or less.

The proposed tax rates would mean that families and couples would see tax cuts. For example, a family of four earning $61,000 a year would pay less in income tax. There would also be a tax credit for families with children. The tax rate for companies would also increase.

The gas tax that helps pay for the infrastructure plan went into effect on July 1, 2019. Illinois now has one of the highest fuel taxes in the U.S.

Tobacco

On April 7, 2019, Pritzker made Illinois the first state in the Midwest to raise the legal age to buy tobacco to 21. He also raised the sales tax on cigarettes to help fund capital projects.

Voting Rights

In June 2020, Pritzker signed a law to make Election Day a state holiday. This helps more people vote.

Welfare

The 2019–20 budget included $230 million for a new Quincy Veterans Home and $21 million for the Chicago Veterans Home.

In July 2019, Pritzker signed a bill to create a food program for the elderly, disabled, and homeless. This program allows them to get discounted meals from businesses that work with the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Political Views

Pritzker speaking at the World Economic Forum in 2023

Environmental Issues

On January 23, 2019, Pritzker committed Illinois to the U.S. Climate Alliance. This group aims to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions. In 2023, Pritzker stopped a law that would have allowed more nuclear power plants to be built in Illinois. He was concerned about nuclear waste.

Gun Control

Pritzker supports banning certain types of firearms and large magazines. He also supports strict rules for registering firearms.

Immigration

Pritzker supports Syrian refugees and wants to increase funding for immigrant and refugee services. He also supports giving financial aid to undocumented students.

LGBT Rights

Rainbow background of a LGBT campaign button from 2018

Pritzker has long supported LGBT rights. He has taken part in the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. During his 2018 campaign, he said his government would work against anti-LGBT hate crimes and expand health care access for LGBT people.

Minimum Wage

As a candidate, Pritzker promised to raise the minimum wage in Illinois to $15 an hour. He signed a plan to do this. The minimum wage went up to $9.25 an hour in January 2020, and then to $10 an hour in July 2020. It has continued to rise by $1 per hour each year and reached $15 as of January 1, 2025.

Net Neutrality

Pritzker supports net neutrality. He believes that all internet traffic should be treated equally. This helps businesses, education, and freedom of speech online.

Charity Work

Through the Pritzker Family Foundation, Pritzker has given money to research and programs that help children in poverty. He supported the creation of a group at the University of Chicago that studies early childhood development. He also helped start the First Five Years Fund, which focuses on early care and learning programs for young children.

Pritzker was the chairman of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. He helped raise money and plan the building of this museum, which teaches about the Holocaust and other genocides. He also helped fund Cambodia Tribunal Monitor, a website about the trials of those responsible for genocide in Cambodia.

In 2007, Pritzker and his wife donated $5 million to the University of South Dakota for a new university center. In 2011, he gave a large gift to Milton Academy for a new science center. He is also a trustee at Northwestern University.

In 2015, Pritzker and his wife, M. K. Pritzker, gave $100 million to Northwestern University School of Law. The school was renamed the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in honor of his great-grandfather.

Personal Life

In 1993, Pritzker married Mary Kathryn "M. K." Muenster. They met in Washington, D.C. They live in Chicago with their two children and also at the Illinois Governor's Mansion in Springfield.

In 2024, Forbes magazine estimated Pritzker's net worth to be $3.7 billion.

Images for kids

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  Campaign logo used by Pritzker

Electoral history

See also

In Spanish: J. B. Pritzker para niños

• Pritzker family