Gov. JB Pritzker speaks ahead of President Joe Biden at an event in Chicago in June 2023. [Ben Szalinski/The Daily Line]   

Chicago will play host to a presidential nomination for the 26th time this week and add to the city’s rich political history, which has included influential convention moments that nominated Abraham Lincoln, produced some of America’s fiercest political fights and the dark cloud of riots in 1968 the city has never forgotten.  

In addition to the new American history set to be written at the United Center this week, Illinois Democrats are also hoping to share a blueprint for passing Democratic policies as Gov. JB Pritzker takes on one of the most important political roles of his career as host governor and keynote speaker.  

“This was kind of a glint in our eye about two years ago to get the convention here,” Pritzker told The Daily Line. “We all worked very hard … but back at the very beginning, you know, we just believed that it would be really good for the city and the state if we could bring a spotlight to Chicago and, very importantly, economic benefits.” 

Pritzker shot down questions at the State Fair on Wednesday about what the Democratic National Convention (DNC) would mean for his legacy. When he takes the stage Tuesday night, Pritzker hinted to The Daily Line that he’ll continue his role in a self-proclaimed title as Illinois’ chief marketing officer.  

“People ought to know about the great state of Illinois and I'm going to talk a little bit about that and the city of Chicago and our place in history as a state,” Pritzker said.   

“There's a lot that people need to know about the state, and then importantly, about the values of that we have carried out as Democrats in Illinois, which are the values of Americans across the United States and the values that [Vice President] Kamala Harris and [Gov.] Tim Walz are bringing to the ticket and to leadership,” Pritzker continued.  

A political convention stage has often served as a national introduction for rising party leaders. In 2004, Illinois State. Sen. Barack Obama gave a speech that propelled him to the presidency four years later. Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Lisa Hernandez told The Daily Line she thinks Pritzker would make a “fabulous” president if the opportunity arose someday.  

“He really cares,” Hernandez said of Pritzker. “He’s used his experience, his know-how, his business hat, many times to bring the state to where it is right now.”  

She also pointed to Pritzker’s work with Think Big America, a national political action committee Pritzker has used to focus on promoting reproductive rights in other states that has also helped boost his national profile.   

“I’m really proud of the role he’s taken on reproductive rights,” Hernandez said. “He’s really led that on not just here in Illinois, but just elsewhere. He really does come through.”   

Pritzker said he’s confident Harris’ current political momentum will continue beyond the DNC. He hopes it offers an opportunity for Republicans and independents on the fence about Harris to see the difference in the choices between her and former President Donald Trump.  

“Donald Trump is an angry person who likes to attack people,” Pritzker said. “He's a racist and a misogynist and I think all of that adds up to, you know, a picture of somebody that's very hard to support to begin with. And when you've got an option on the other side of people who you may disagree with on one policy or another, but you understand that they have the best interest of the American people in mind, makes it a pretty easy decision for people who understand what's really at stake.”  

Harris’ candidacy is also paying off for Illinois Democrats. Donations are flowing in and volunteer recruitment for some events has been so strong the party has had to cut it off, Hernandez said.   

“People are engaged, they’re excited, there’s this sort of energy, momentum that’s just building and people want to be in it,” Hernandez said.  

Democratic Party of Illinois Executive Director Ben Hardin said at a party State Central Committee meeting last week that 1,000 volunteers have signed up with the party in just the last two weeks.   

Democrats around the country are paying attention to what Illinois Democrats have enacted into law, Hernandez said, particularly on guns, reproductive rights and workers’ rights.   

“We could go on and on and it just demonstrates where Illinois is,” Hernandez said. “We are really I think just being seen as one of the states that take a lead, and we stand for the values that Democrats stand for.”  

Illinois Democrats have accomplished items that have been elusive to Democrats in other states and at the national level where Republicans occupy more seats in legislative bodies. Illinois Democrats haven’t been immune from their own internal divisions, but often get a general consensus on key bills behind closed doors to avoid public fights, which Hernandez attributes to strong leaders in the General Assembly.   

“The leadership has really taken sort of that role of putting aside differences and just really aiming at what we need to accomplish, and I think Illinois leadership has taken it very seriously what our country has gone through,” Hernandez said.   

But crime has long been a problem in Chicago and Illinois and Republicans are expected to use the issue for criticism during the DNC.  

“Of course they’re going to do their best, Republicans as they have been doing, to deter really from what has really been accomplished,” Hernandez said.   

Pritzker’s schedule for the week includes lots of campaign work and some fun on the side. He’ll participate in a panel for his reproductive advocacy group on Wednesday, a day after he hosts John Legend for a post-convention concert at the Salt Shed. But as host governor he also has an official side of business to tend to.  

Pritzker downplayed any worries that violence from protests would be an issue during the DNC as this year’s convention draws comparisons to 1968’s anti-war protests that spewed into historic violence. WBEZ reported Friday on plans by a group called Behind Enemy Lines to engage in violence with police and attempt to disrupt the convention. Though the group’s protest subject is the conflict in Gaza, WBEZ reports they are not part of the March on the DNC coalition.   

“I feel like there is every likelihood that peaceful protesters will have their rights protected and be able to be heard,” Pritzker said. “Are there bad apples, you know, and people who want to cause mayhem? Yeah, but I think what they've heard from the superintendent of Chicago Police is that won't be tolerated.”