Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker arrived in Dallas on Wednesday to introduce his new political action committee, Ready for the Fight, which aims to spend at least $20 million supporting Democratic candidates in the upcoming November election. The event, hosted by Texas Democrats, provided a local platform for the governor to criticize the federal administration.
Pritzker’s remarks on President Trump
Speaking to the assembled crowd, Governor Pritzker said the Republican Party was “clinically deranged and out of touch.” He added, “And of course, we have President Trump himself, a president suffering from dementia.” The governor used the moment to highlight what he described as Texas Democrats’ resistance to a mid‑decade redistricting plan, calling it “the canary in the coal mine” for broader national concerns.
Linking Texas actions to other states
Pritzker argued that the Texas Democrats’ stance set an example for other states. “They are why Illinois got Indiana to back down from changing their map and why the people of Missouri took their MAGA secretary of state to court,” he said, suggesting a ripple effect of opposition to partisan redistricting efforts.
Republican response from Illinois
Illinois House Republican Leader Tony McCombie quickly responded, stating that Governor Pritzker was “shifting blame to President Trump for Illinois’ problems” and that the governor’s new PAC and Texas trip demonstrated “national ambition over Illinois families.” McCombie urged Pritzker to focus on the state he was elected to lead rather than seeking a national spotlight.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey also criticized the governor, questioning Pritzker’s understanding of Illinois taxpayers. Bailey said, “In J.B. Pritzker’s world, he thinks everything just works out great because he’s a trust‑fund billionaire. He’s never had to create or build.” Both statements underscore the partisan divide over the governor’s recent activities.
Context of the Texas convention
The remarks came just hours before Republicans opened a two‑night convention in Dallas, marking a significant moment for the party as it prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. While the convention focuses on national strategy, Pritzker’s appearance highlighted the ongoing tension between state Democratic leaders and the federal administration.
Funding and political strategy
Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC was launched on Tuesday, with the governor indicating a commitment to pour at least $20 million into Democratic campaigns nationwide. This follows a recent $65 million addition to his own gubernatorial campaign fund and a cumulative spending record of more than $400 million on Democratic candidates since his first run for governor in 2018.
The governor’s Texas visit underscores a broader Democratic effort to mobilize support in key battleground states ahead of the 2026 elections, while Republican leaders in Illinois frame the trip as a distraction from state priorities.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
