Illinois voters decide Pritzker's fate in 36-state governor showdown

Voters in Joliet, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Orland Park, Tinley Park, and Downers Grove are heading to the polls today under a gray November sky. Illinois polls opened at 6 a.m. And will close at 7 p.m. The state is choosing its next U.S. Senator in an open seat and deciding whether Governor J.B. Pritzker will serve a second term. Pritzker is the only incumbent governor in the state’s race, with the Green and Independent parties also fielding candidates. This local decision is part of a broader national contest that will determine which party controls the governor’s office across the United States.

Nationally, voters are choosing 36 governors today, marking the largest single-day selection of chief executives in recent history. Heading into this election, Republicans held 26 governorships and Democrats held 24. Among the 36 states holding elections, the split is perfectly even, with each party holding 18 of the contested seats. This balance creates a high-stakes scenario where Democrats need a net gain of two governorships to achieve a nationwide majority, a status Republicans have held since 2010. The outcome will significantly influence the tone of state legislatures and policy priorities in the coming four years.

The competitive nature of these races is heightened by the fact that 19 of the 36 governorships are open seats. Fifteen governors are term-limited, while three others, including Iowa’s Kim Reynolds, Minnesota’s Tim Walz, and Wisconsin’s Tony Evers, chose not to run. Rhode Island’s Daniel McKee lost his primary, adding to the list of vacancies. These open races are often more unpredictable than incumbent contests, allowing challengers to define the terms of the debate without the burden of a voting record.

Ballotpedia identifies nine specific governor races as battlegrounds: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, and Wisconsin. In Georgia, Republican healthcare executive Rick Jackson faces Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to succeed Brian Kemp. In Ohio, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy runs against Democrat Amy Acton. The Associated Press also notes that Texas, Florida, and Iowa are viewed as competitive races, though they are not all listed in the primary battleground count. Democrats are hoping to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades, a goal that requires winning in states that leaned heavily toward President Donald Trump in 2024.

Democrats currently defend five governorships in states that Trump won in 2024: Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Republicans defend two governorships in states that Kamala Harris won in 2024: New Hampshire and Vermont. This geographic overlap suggests that the governor races are closely tied to the national mood regarding economic conditions. In Nevada, Republican Governor Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford. Economic strain and tariffs have made several of these states more competitive than in previous cycles.

Back in Will County, the governor’s race is a key part of the statewide ballot that also includes every U.S. House seat in Illinois. The state is also electing members to the state legislature, intermediate appellate courts, and various local school boards and municipal governments. The U.S. Senate race is particularly high profile as it is an open seat, with no incumbent running. The parties on the ballot for this federal race are the Democratic and Republican parties. In the governor’s race, voters will choose from candidates affiliated with the Democratic, Green, Independent, and Republican parties.

The Associated Press describes today’s election as a referendum on President Trump’s second term, with voters struggling with high prices and angry over an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump’s job performance, while about 7 in 10 say the country is heading in the wrong direction. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals of four years ago in many closely watched states. This high volume of early voting suggests that the final outcome will depend heavily on turnout in the final hours of the day.

Republican committees were bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate, with one or two seats able to tip either chamber. Democrats were described as cautiously optimistic. Trump held dozens of rallies, ending Sunday in Salina, Kansas, where he told supporters, "I really want you to pretend I'm on the ballot." His administration has also filed lawsuits in Alaska and California related to voting certification, a move that has raised concerns among Democrats about potential interference. The U.S. Postal Service added hours and staff to ensure mail ballots are counted on time, a critical step in a mail-heavy election year.

Money is playing a significant role in this election, which is likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, helped by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. Analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024. This targeted spending reflects a strategy to defend the president’s base while Democrats focus on flipping swing states and key governorships.

If Democrats win even one chamber of Congress, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. A strong Democratic night would also boost potential 2028 candidates such as Gavin Newsom, J.B. Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg. For Joliet and Illinois voters, the stakes are high as they determine the leadership of their state and their representation in the federal government. With polls open until 7 p.m., the final margin will be determined by the last wave of voters heading to polling places across the county.