Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.
By Paul Vallas | Illinois Policy Institute
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to welcome Texas Democrats to Illinois, framing the state as a sanctuary for lawmakers seeking to block partisan redistricting efforts in Texas, offers a timely diversion from his mounting problems closer to home.
While Pritzker works to draw the national spotlight, Illinois residents are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with him.
Recent polling by the Illinois Policy Institute shows Pritzker’s approval has dipped underwater: 47% view him favorably, while more than 50% hold an unfavorable opinion.
Even more troubling is over half of Illinois residents would relocate if they had the means. They overwhelmingly cited high taxes as their main concern: 60% said it was the top issue, followed by worries about governance, the economy, crime and migration.
These concerns are valid. In 2025, Illinois will impose the highest combined state and local tax burden in the nation on households earning the median U.S. income. That tax burden is $13,099, or more than 16.5% of annual earnings. It’s $4,472 more than the national average and nearly 52% more than what most Americans pay. Families can save over $5,000 a year simply by moving to Indiana.
Despite receiving over $53 billion in federal COVID relief – with $11.8 billion eligible to be used directly by the state for operational and one-time expenses – Pritzker has grown Illinois’ budget by $16 billion and enacted over 50 tax hikes.
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