The record

Gov. JB Pritzker (D), 2019 to now

1. 2019

   Signed Rebuild Illinois (Public Act 101-0032): the gas tax doubled from 19 to 38 cents a gallon on July 1, 2019, with automatic inflation increases each year. It is 48.3 cents today, up about 154%. Source: Illinois Department of Revenue; KFVS.

2. 2019

   Signed graduated income tax rates that would take effect if voters approved the “Fair Tax” amendment, and championed the amendment. Voters rejected it in November 2020, 53.3% to 46.7%. Source: Governor's office, June 2019; Ballotpedia.

3. 2019

   Signed the law creating a Property Tax Relief Task Force (Public Act 101-0181). Its draft was never adopted as a final report. The relief that came was a one-time rebate of up to $300 in 2022. Source: WJBC; WIFR.

4. 2021

   Signed the SAFE-T Act (Public Act 101-0652) on February 22, 2021, ending cash bail as of September 18, 2023. Source: Chicago Appleseed; Capitol News Illinois. What the data shows.

5. 2021

   A COVID outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home (November 2020 to January 2021) killed 36 veterans. A 2021 Inspector General report documented widespread failures at the Department of Veterans' Affairs, whose director, his appointee, resigned. A 2022 Auditor General audit found the state health department did not step in during the outbreak's early days. Source: Capitol News Illinois; Illinois Auditor General.

6. 2025

   An Auditor General audit found two state-funded immigrant health programs cost $1.6 billion through mid-2024, far above their estimates. His own budget ended the adults program on July 1, 2025. Source: Illinois Auditor General; Capitol News Illinois.

7. 2025

   Signed the Chicago-area transit law (December 16, 2025): a higher RTA sales tax and about $860 million a year of motor-fuel sales tax moved from roads to transit. Source: Capitol News Illinois.

8. 2026

   Signed the FY2027 budget on June 16, 2026: $55.9 billion in General Funds, the largest in state history, with about $800 million in new business taxes by Republican leaders' count. The same budget paused the July 2026 gas tax increase to January 1, 2027. Source: Capitol News Illinois; IDOR.

9. 2026

   The Tollway board he appoints voted 8-0 on August 19, 2026 to raise car tolls about 57%. Asked about it, he said: “We want to make sure that our roads are pothole-free, that we're making sure to build more so that we can build our economy across the state of Illinois.” Source: Capitol News Illinois, Aug 21, 2026.

10. 2026

    His administration has announced plans to close Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln and build a new women's prison in Crest Hill. In September he defended the plan and pointed to a five-year plan to bring new business to Lincoln. Source: WGLT, Sept 8, 2026.

Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D)

Lieutenant governor since January 2019, and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2026 (NBC News). Before that, state representative for the 5th District, January 2017 to December 2018 (Illinois General Assembly).

1. 2017

   Voted yes on the income tax increase (SB 9) when the House passed it on July 2, and yes on July 6 to override the governor's veto, 71-42. The rate went from 3.75% to 4.95%. Source: House roll call, July 2; House roll call, July 6.

2. 2017

   Voted yes on the FY2017 spending bill, SB 6 (passed 81-34). Source: House roll call.

3. 2017

   Co-sponsored HB 3421, a bill to abolish monetary bail. It did not pass. Source: Bill text.

4. 2017

   Chief sponsor of HB 2663, which bars expelling young children from state-funded preschool programs (Public Act 100-0105). Source: Public Act 100-0105.

5. 2020

   Warned that voters would face a 20% across-the-board income tax increase if the graduated tax amendment failed. Source: Chicago Sun-Times, Sept 25, 2020.

6. 2022

   At the signing of the SAFE-T Act changes: “We must stop criminalizing poverty, and that is our goal as we end cash bail in Illinois.” Source: Governor's office, Dec 6, 2022.

As lieutenant governor she chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council and the R3 board, which gives 25% of state cannabis tax revenue to community grants. Her office runs a juvenile justice redesign that includes the Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln, opened in September 2025. Source: Office of the Lt. Governor; Justice, Equity and Opportunity.

Stated positions, 2026 U.S. Senate campaign. On a Chicago Sun-Times candidate questionnaire: “I support Medicare for All,” and “ICE must be abolished. It is out of control and beyond reform.” Source: Chicago Sun-Times questionnaire. On the federal minimum wage: “I'm fighting for 25.” Source: Capitol News Illinois, Apr 16, 2026.