Christian Mitchell, a former deputy governor, was named governor JB Pritzker’s running mate for the 2026 election on Tuesday.
Days after declaring a third bid for governor, Pritzker was chosen by a close group of people who trusted his administration. During Pritzker’s first term, Mitchell was one of four deputy governors in charge of important projects in the governor’s office.
According to a statement from Pritzker, Christian Mitchell is a seasoned leader with extensive experience, sound judgment, and an unwavering dedication to Illinois’ working people. Christian has been a driving force behind a great deal of our advancement, whether it is in the areas of infrastructure reconstruction, community safety, or the transformation of our clean energy future. To keep producing outcomes for the people of Illinois, I couldn’t ask for a better partner.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, who is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, will be replaced on the ticket by Mitchell, 38.
Mitchell has extensive knowledge of public policy and state governance. Mitchell, a native of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, was elected to the Illinois House three times starting in 2013. From 2018 to 2019, he served as the executive director of the Democratic Party of Illinois before becoming governor in 2019.
Lieutenant governor role
Early in 2023, Mitchell departed Pritzker’s administration to take a position at the University of Chicago as vice president for civic engagement, where he is in charge of government relations. Last year, Pritzker appointed Mitchell to an unpaid post on the board of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which is in charge of McCormick Place and Navy Pier. In addition, he serves in the Illinois Air National Guard as a first lieutenant.
In a statement, Mitchell said, “The governor has shown courage and compassion in leading, and together we’ve built a foundation that’s moving Illinois forward.” I’m prepared to build on those gains by reducing expenses, increasing opportunities, and ensuring that every community has access to the tools and chances they are entitled to. I’m eager to get started because this is about providing the people of Illinois with tangible results.
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Despite Illinois’s limited constitutional duties for the lieutenant governor, Pritzker has taken advantage of the post to assign Stratton the responsibility of spearheading important legislative projects and supervising the execution of some of his administration’s top priorities at state agencies.
The position will be more significant if Pritzker is elected to a second term because he is thinking about running for president in 2028. Mitchell would have to serve the last two years of his term if Pritzker were elected president.
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Pritzker informed reporters in recent days that he was searching for a running mate who was prepared to take over the governorship right away if necessary, but he kept Mitchell’s pick a secret.
The primary prerequisite is the ability to perform the duties of a governor, as that position may become available to you if you are a lieutenant governor, Pritzker stated on Monday.
Because Illinois is a large, varied state, the second thing I consider is who I may pick for lieutenant governor—someone who cares about all Illinoisans, not just a particular group of individuals,” he said.
Deputy governor role
In Pritzker’s administration, deputy governors were in charge of particular policy areas and state agencies, much like a chief of staff. Mitchell oversaw public safety, infrastructure, and environmental policies.
Mitchell presided over the discussions of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, Pritzker’s flagship climate policy, in 2020 and 2021. It mandates that all fossil fuel power plants close by 2045 and drastically changes the utility and energy sectors.
Mitchell served as the face of the Pritzker administration during the bill’s passage through the legislature and was in charge of representing the governor in negotiations around it.
That measure solidified Pritzker’s standing as a climate-minded progressive. It was passed in the wake of a bribery scandal involving Chicago’s electric provider that caused former House Speaker Michael Madigan to quit.
The state could miss the clean energy targets that Mitchell helped legislate, according to some politicians and energy experts who were engaged in the law’s passage.
The 2019 rehabilitate Illinois capital plan, a $45 billion building project to rehabilitate roads, bridges, and other infrastructure throughout the state, was also implemented under Mitchell’s direction.
Mitchell was also in charge of regulating cannabis for recreational use. In his first year, Pritzker enacted laws allowing recreational cannabis use, establishing new social justice standards, and establishing a number of dispensary restrictions.
Other experience
Mitchell chaired the House Economic Opportunity Committee while serving as a state lawmaker.
Mitchell contributes a wealth of political expertise to the ticket as well. Under previous party chair Mike Madigan, Mitchell held a high-level leadership position as Democrats won supermajorities in the Statehouse and swept campaigns for statewide positions in 2018. He replaced Tim Mapes, Madigan’s former chief of staff, who is currently serving time in jail for a conviction of perjury after being accused of sexual harassment.
Additionally, he has served as an advisor on a number of Illinois political races, including heading the Midwest polling for the 2012 campaign of former President Barack Obama.
Andrew Adams made a contribution.
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