Pritzker’s clout tested as Illinois primaries spotlight outside money

Illinois’ Democratic primaries underscored Gov. JB Pritzker’s clout as Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton moved toward a Senate bid; outside groups spent over $52 million—led by AIPAC—with mixed results, while progressives fell short and turnout hit record levels, signaling money’s growing influence in shaping Illinois’ political landscape ahead of 2028 considerations.