Pritzker pushes Illinois voters to challenge Washington in midterms

Gov. JB Pritzker campaigned across Illinois over the weekend, urging voters to use the midterm elections to send a message to Washington. State election officials report that early voting and vote-by-mail figures are currently running ahead of expectations. Voters in Illinois are set to decide 17 congressional races, elect a U.S. Senator, and choose officials for city, county, and statewide positions.

Pritzker addressed supporters at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn and at a Democratic Party event in Lincoln Square. He also joined members of the Latino community in Cicero to observe Día de los Muertos. During that event, Pritzker noted that federal agents stepped up immigration enforcement in the Chicago area around this time last year, leading to arrests that frightened residents. He stated that voters hold the power to respond on Election Day.

Pritzker argued that a Democratic-controlled Congress must adopt an agenda to raise the minimum wage and lower prices. He said the party must fight to protect people's rights against President Donald Trump. "If Democrats can control Congress, they need to go to Washington with an agenda that truly is going to raise the minimum wage and lower prices and make sure we are fighting to protect people's rights, against Donald Trump," Pritzker said.

U.S. Senate candidate Julianna Stratton addressed the crowd after presenting awards to campaign volunteers. She called for unity within the party and asked voters to support Democratic candidates at every level of government. "What do you think about electing democrats up and down the ticket across Illinois at every level of government so that we can keep fighting back against the most corrupt president in the history of the United States. Are we gonna do that?" Stratton asked.

Chicago voters will also select the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools system, including the school board president. Candidate Jessica Biggs spoke to a congregation at Bright Star Church on the South Side. She emphasized that this election cycle marks the first time in the district's history that the entire board is up for election. "Chicago, we are doing something absolutely historic in this moment. We are voting for the entire school board for the first time in our history," Biggs said.

The general election is scheduled for November 3. Voters will cast ballots for federal, state, and local offices across Cook County and the rest of the state.