GOP candidates: Illinois families struggle while Pritzker wins in Las Vegas
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker was a big winner in Las Vegas, but his Republican rivals say the governor’s policies are giving Illinois families a losing hand.
Pritzker told reporters last week that his $1.4 million in reported gambling earnings last year came from playing blackjack during a trip to Las Vegas.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski held a press conference outside Bally Casino in Chicago Tuesday and said Pritzker has audacity to say how well Illinois is doing.
“He touts growth in Illinois, he touts that he’s making it more affordable. He makes a lot of claims that are just not true,” Dabrowski said.
The former Wirepoints president said Pritzker is divorced from the struggles of everyday people in Illinois.
“On the economy, it’s the sixth-worst in the nation since he took office, on wages seventh-worst in the country, property taxes the highest in the country. Gas taxes, he doubled the motor fuel tax. They’re now the second-highest in the country,” Dabrowski said.
2022 GOP nominee and 2026 candidate Darren Bailey said most people dream of winning over a million dollars, like Pritzker did playing blackjack in Las Vegas.
“That’s what I’ve been fighting and pushing for literally the last seven years is just trying to show the people of Illinois that this man has absolutely nothing in common with the average working family here in Illinois,” Bailey told The Center Square.
Bailey said Pritzker is “living the high life” in Las Vegas while hard-working families are struggling.
DuPage County Sheriff and 2026 GOP gubernatorial candidate James Mendrick said Pritzker was gambling a lot of money in order to win as much as he did.
“For him, I think he thinks it’s like Monopoly money. He doesn’t have to pay his taxes like we do. He doesn’t have worry about if he’s going to be able to make a car payment. He doesn’t have to worry about making ends meet. It’s very obvious that his budgeting reflects that just like his social life does,” Mendrick told The Center Square.
Latest News Stories
Federal Lobbyists Brief Will County on Government Shutdown, Warn of SNAP and TSA Disruptions
Will County Committee Advances Gougar Road Bridge Project with Over $540,000 in Agreements
Commission Approves Mokena-Area Garage Variance Over Village’s Objection
Residents Clash on School Funding, Citing Low Tax Rate vs. “Wasteful” Spending at Committee Meeting
JJC Receives Surprise $1.9 Million from IRS Employee Retention Credit
JJC Advances ERP Modernization with New Vendor and Two-Year Budget
Will County Committee Shapes 2026 Legislative Agendas on Housing, Energy, and Health
JJC Authorizes Land Buy for Grundy County Expansion, Secures Site in Morris
Commission Grants Green Garden Solar Farm Project Variance Extension
Peotone School Committee: Issue $4.85M Bond to Cover Deficit, Maxing Out Debt Capacity
Will County Committee Advances Phased Takeover of Central Will Dial-A-Ride Service
Everyday Economics: Rate cut debate: Reading mixed signals in a fragile economy
