CRE Players Push Illinois' Pritzker As Clock Winds Down On Veepstakes
Forty-two prominent business leaders, including some of the biggest names in Chicago commercial real estate, are imploring Vice President Kamala Harris to pick Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as her running mate.
The leaders signed a letter Thursday touting Pritzker's sound fiscal policies, pro-business stance and ability to work across partisan lines, Politico first reported. Notable signees included Related Midwest President Curt Bailey, Sterling Bay Managing Principal Keating Crown and Shapack Partners CEO Jeff Shapack.
“His proven track record of fiscal responsibility, job creation, and bipartisan collaboration would make him an ideal partner in the White House,” the letter says. “His leadership has not only benefited Illinois but has also set a standard for what effective governance can achieve.”
Sources familiar with the process to get the letter signed told Crain's Chicago Business that it came together quickly and that other letter-writing campaigns on behalf of different vice presidential candidates partially motivated the effort.
Pritzker is on the shortlist of vice presidential candidates, alongside Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Harris is expected to make her selection shortly and begin campaigning with her pick in Philadelphia next Tuesday.
The leaders highlighted Pritzker's efforts to pass six balanced budgets and the state's nine credit rating upgrades during his tenure as governor. They also pointed to the governor's success in drawing companies and dollars to Illinois, including Rivian's $1.5B expansion in Normal, and a budget commitment to spend $500M supporting the development of a regional quantum information science and technology campus to lure high-tech firms to the state.
“As leaders in the Illinois business community, we are writing to express our unwavering support for Governor J.B. Pritzker,” the letter says. “His leadership has not only revitalized our state’s economy but has also positioned Illinois as a beacon of opportunity and innovation.”
Illinois is a reliably blue state. Its voters haven't been polled since October 2023 when President Joe Biden was comfortably leading, well before he exited the race last month, according to fivethirtyeight.com.
