Pritzker to meet with Biden, Democratic governors concerned about president’s campaign

Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and his fellow Democratic governors on Wednesday, amid growing concern within the party about the president’s ability to continue seeking a second term.

Pritzker, who had been floated by pundits as a possible 2024 White House contender before the president announced his reelection campaign, has repeatedly pledged his loyalty to Biden. Pritzker’s only public criticism of Biden has been to call for more help for migrants arriving in Illinois.

But in an interview with CNN Tuesday night, the governor expressed mild concern about Biden’s campaign, while stating unequivocally that he would continue to support the president’s candidacy “unless he makes another decision.”

Wednesday’s meeting follows Biden’s performance in the first of two scheduled debates with former President Donald Trump last week, which raised concerns about the president’s mental acuity.

Pritzker criticized on CNN not Biden’s performance directly in the debate, but what he has done — or not done — since.

“We haven’t heard much from him since the debate, and that’s why the polls are so positive,” Pritzker said. “I think when you come out of a bad debate, you have to remind people why you’re the right person to elect.”

But he immediately added that he hoped Biden would engage more with the public “over the next couple of weeks.”

“At least I expect him to, or he’ll make a different decision,” the governor said of Biden’s candidacy. “And I think that’s again a healthy conversation that we all need to have,” he added.

Wednesday’s meeting follows a call earlier this week hosted by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association. Pritzker made clear that none of the governors on that call said they wanted Biden to step down. Rather, he said, they wanted reassurance about the president’s campaign strategy.

“I think this debate has raised questions, and I hope this is just a one-off situation that the president can rectify by letting everyone know, once again, all the great things he’s done for working families across America,” Pritzker said.

The governor has repeatedly expressed confidence that as Nov. 5 approaches, Biden and his spokespeople will effectively demonstrate that the president is a clear “contrast” to former President Donald Trump, whom he called a “despotic narcissist.”

“He’s a convicted felon and a convicted rapist, and he’s a congenital liar,” Pritzker said, repeating a well-rehearsed description he has used in local and national appearances since Trump was convicted May 30 by a New York jury in a case centered on his hush-money payments to a porn star.

The governor avoided directly answering a question about a new CNN poll showing that most voters think the Democratic Party has a better chance of beating Trump with someone other than Biden.

“The Democratic Party has a great bench, and I think you and I both know there are some very capable people whose names have been mentioned as potential candidates for the future,” he said. “But right now, our focus is on the 2024 race and Joe Biden will be the nominee, unless we say otherwise.”

In a separate CNN segment Tuesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley of Chicago was more forthcoming in expressing concern about Biden’s appeal to voters and a potential drag on other Democrats fighting to retain control of the Senate and regain control of the House.

“We have to be honest with ourselves, it wasn’t just a horrible night,” Quigley said. “It’s his decision. I just want him to realize at that moment how much of an impact this has on not only his race, but all the other races coming up in November.”

Editor’s note: This article may be updated depending on the outcome of Wednesday afternoon’s meeting.

Illinois Capitol Newsis a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and television stations throughout the state. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, with significant contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and the Southern Illinois Editorial Association.