MANCHESTER, N.H. — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sharply criticized fellow Democrats on Sunday for not doing sufficient to oppose President Donald Trump, drawing a transparent divide between himself and different high-profile Democrats seen as future presidential contenders.
Pritzker delivered the keynote tackle on the New Hampshire Democratic Occasion’s McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Membership Dinner, the most recent and most high-profile in a collection of speeches this yr.
Pritzker continued to assault Trump, however he additionally centered on what he says are shortcomings in his personal occasion, assailing Democrats for listening to “a bunch of know-nothing political sorts” as an alternative of on a regular basis People. With out naming names, he referred to as out Democrats “flocking to podcasts and cable information exhibits to admonish fellow Democrats for not caring sufficient in regards to the struggles of working households.
“Those self same do-nothing Democrats need to blame our losses on our protection of Black individuals, of trans children, of immigrants, as an alternative of their very own lack of guts and gumption,” Pritzker mentioned.
The second-term governor has but to say whether or not he’ll run for that workplace once more in 2026, however the billionaire Hyatt inheritor has been laying the groundwork for a possible presidential marketing campaign for years.
Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, one other high-profile 2028 contender, said on his podcast recently that the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador and detained at one level in a infamous megaprison, was a “distraction” from points equivalent to tariffs. Newsom additionally mentioned on his podcast’s inaugural episode that he opposes trans athletes competing in ladies’s sports activities.
Polling suggests immigration is Trump’s strongest issue and {that a} majority of Democrats additionally oppose trans participation in ladies’s sports activities.
Pritzker on Sunday night time mentioned it was no time for Democrats to be in despair.
“By no means earlier than in my life have I referred to as for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption, however I’m now,” he mentioned, stressing that the occasion “should castigate them on the soapbox after which punish them on the poll field.”
Pritzker has already spoken this yr on the Human Rights Marketing campaign’s Los Angeles dinner and is scheduled to headline a Minnesota Democratic dinner in June. He drew nationwide consideration in February when he used a part of his joint funds and State of the State tackle to attract a parallel between Trump’s rhetoric and the rise of Nazi Germany.
On Sunday, Pritzker once more invoked his Jewish religion, criticizing Trump’s efforts to deport overseas college students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He referred to as on Trump to “cease tearing down the Structure within the identify of my ancestors,” a line that drew a standing ovation from the group.
However Pritzker was additionally adamant in calling out the “do-nothing Democrats,” asserting that whereas the occasion “might have to repair our messaging and technique, our values are precisely the place they need to be.” He added, “We are going to by no means be part of so many Republicans in a particular place in hell reserved for quislings and cowards.”
Lou D’Allesandro, who retired from the New Hampshire State Senate final yr after 5 many years in public service and met Pritzker in Chicago years in the past, mentioned the Illinois governor “has all of the components to make it to the large time.”
“He’s very fast on his toes, very gregarious,” he mentioned. However any Democrat who desires to win in 2028 has their work reduce out for them, he mentioned.
“They’ve acquired to reintroduce themselves to the grassroots,” he mentioned. “They’ve acquired to let individuals know Democrats care about them, or they’re gonna be in massive bother.”
Final yr’s featured speaker on the McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Membership dinner was Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who went on to change into his occasion’s vice presidential nominee.
The annual occasion is particularly important amongst state Democratic fundraisers given New Hampshire’s historic function holding the nation’s first presidential major, although Democrats final yr moved South Carolina forward on the behest of former President Joe Biden.
The primary 100 Membership dinner was held in 1959 to advertise the presidential candidacy of John F. Kennedy. In 2020, audio system included 10 Democratic candidates for president.
