JB Pritzker

JB Pritzker, born on January 19, 1965, in Palo Alto, California, is a prominent American politician, lawyer, and businessman. He has been serving as the 43rd governor of Illinois since January 14, 2019, after winning a competitive Democratic primary and defeating Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner in the general election.

A member of the influential Pritzker family, known for their ownership of the Hyatt hotel chain, JB Pritzker has made significant contributions to the business world. He graduated from Milton Academy, Duke University, and Northwestern University School of Law. As a managing partner at Pritzker Group Private Capital, he has been instrumental in launching several venture capital and investment startups, including Chicago Ventures and funding initiatives like Techstars Chicago and Built in Chicago.

Before his political career, Pritzker was an active supporter of the Democratic Party and attempted to enter electoral politics in 1998 with an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He also chaired the Illinois Human Rights Commission from 2003 to 2006 under Governor Rod Blagojevich.

During his tenure as governor, Pritzker has focused on progressive policies, including the legalization of recreational cannabis, raising the minimum wage, expanding abortion access, and managing the COVID-19 pandemic. He was reelected in 2022, continuing to prioritize fiscal policy, education, healthcare, clean energy incentives, and criminal justice reform.