Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday that he would run for a third term in 2026, amid speculation over his ambitions for the 2028 presidential race, with the release of a campaign launch video featuring sharp criticism of President Donald Trump.

At a formal campaign kickoff event Thursday morning in Chicago, Pritzker said, "through every challenge and every triumph, I have grown to love Illinois even more."

JB Pritzker began his third campaign for governor on Thursday, but much of the buzz around his 2026 campaign announcement focused on 2028. Pritzker made four stops around the state to launch his campaign,