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Public image of JB Pritzker

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Jay Robert "JB" Pritzker is an American businessman, politician, philanthropist, and attorney, serving since 2019 as the 43rd governor of Illinois. He is a member of the wealthy Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain. As of August 2024, Forbes estimates Pritzker as having a net worth of $3.5 billion dollars and considers him to be the richest politician in the United States.[1]

Supporters

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Pritzker has gained support from progressives and socialists for his stances on healthcare and education along with his positions on issues such as raising the minimum wage, legalizing recreational marijuana, and expanding access to healthcare.[2][3] Pritzker's administration has been considered one of the most progressive in the United States.[4][5][6]

Opposition to Pritzker

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The vast majority of opposition to the Governor comes from Republicans and conservatives, who oppose his views on gun restrictions and abortion.[7] Pritzker's gubernatorial election results in Southern Illinois were less successful than those of both Rod Blagojevich and Glenn Poshard and has given momentum to a movement advocating for Southern Illinois to become its own state.[7][8] Some left-wing activists have also criticized him for his unclear stance on Medicare for All and his lack of action on minority issues.[9][10][11]

Memes

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On X (formerly Twitter), numerous accounts such as "Socialists for Pritzker", "Nomadic Warriors for Pritzker", "Frat Bros for Pritzker", and " Anarchists for Pritzker", with the Socialists for Pritzker account having over 13,000 followers.[3][12][13] The accounts have been described as semi-ironic, with Pritzker stating that the attention was "entertaining, if a little strange" when asked by Vanity Fair, and claimed that he regularly kept up with several of the fan accounts when speaking to the Chicago Tribune.[3][14] Nomadic Warriors for Pritzker has dubbed Pritzker as the "Great Khan of the Midwest" and has mapped out battle plans for a Mongol Empire-inspired military campaign across the United States.[14][15] The group of accounts, dubbed the "Pritzker Pals," launched a website, coconutbigboy.com, with the goal of influencing Vice President Kamala Harris to pick Pritzker as her running mate in the 2024 Presidential election.[16] Harris later chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

A TikTok account called "Pritzker Memes" garnered 20,000 followers.[12] Some of the memes have been direct as Pritzker's size,[17] with one political commentator stating that "He is enormous, doesn't come off as particularly intellectual, and has good instincts".[13]

Pritzker launched his own beer brand, "JBeers", ahead of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.[6] He also named Malört as the DNC's "unofficial shot".[18]

References

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  1. ^ "J.B. Pritzker". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  2. ^ Prager, Stephen (2022-07-06). "Online Socialists Flock to a Billionaire Governor in Illinois as Aging Icons of the Movement Fade". The New York Sun. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  3. ^ a b c Lutz, Eric (2022-09-06). ""Don't Tell Me I'm Not Allowed to Attack Back": JB Pritzker Will Gladly Be Democrats' Flamethrower". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  4. ^ "With budget proposal and fiery address, Pritzker paints himself as progressive pragmatist". Capitol News Illinois. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  5. ^ Slevin, Peter (2023-10-18). "The Billionaire Hotel Heir—and Progressive Hero?". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  6. ^ a b Weisman, Jonathan (2024-08-18). "JB Pritzker Is Ready to Party at a Convention He Made Happen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  7. ^ a b "Does Gov. J.B. Pritzker Suck?". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  8. ^ Bessler, Kevin (2022-11-14). "Movement to create a new state in southern Illinois gaining momentum". The Center Square. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  9. ^ "Illinois's Progressive Government Is Failing Minorities". City Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  10. ^ DoGood, Silence (2022-11-07). ""Pritzker is Racist!" say Local Activists". The Southland Journal. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  11. ^ "J. B. Pritzker Looks Like a Progressive Hero Because Democrats Have Set the Bar So Low". Jacobin. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  12. ^ a b Moore, Brenden (2022-08-03). "Bailey, Pritzker present in different ways on social media". Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  13. ^ a b Weigel, David (2022-07-05). "Analysis | The Trailer: 'Nationalize this race': Democrats run on abortion in special elections". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  14. ^ a b Borrelli, Christopher (2022-11-04). "J.B. Pritzker, conqueror of worlds? The memeing of the Illinois governor gets weird". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  15. ^ Moore, Brenden (2023-09-14). "Meet the man behind 'Nomadic Warriors for Pritzker' Twitter account". The Pantagraph. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  16. ^ "Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Quirky Online Fanbase Intends to Shitpost Their 'Big Boy' Into the White House". Jezebel.
  17. ^ Zorn, Eric (2017-05-06). "Pritzker gets out in front of weight issue". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  18. ^ Selvam, Ashok (2024-08-19). "Gov. JB Pritzker Crowns Malört the DNC's Unofficial Shot in Chicago". Eater Chicago. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
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