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State Week: Pritzker's decision

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Sean Crawford,
Charles N. Wheeler III, Ben Szalinski
Published June 27, 2025 at 1:37 PM CDT
State Week 23 logo (capitol dome)
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will try to do something only two other men have done: get elected to three terms as the state's chief executive. Pritzker announced he will run again in 2026. The move comes as he is among those believed to be considering a White House bid in 2028.

Also, Illinois' new fiscal year begins July 1. We take a closer look at the new state budget.

Host Sean Crawford is joined by Professor Emeritus Charlie Wheeler and Capitol News Illinois' Ben Szalinski.

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Government & Politics IPRState Week
Sean Crawford
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Charles N. Wheeler III
The former director of the Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) graduate program is Professor Charles N. Wheeler III, a veteran newsman who came to the University of Illinois at Springfield following a 24-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Ben Szalinski
Ben joined CNI in November 2024 as a Statehouse reporter covering the General Assembly from Springfield and other events happening around state government. He previously covered Illinois government for The Daily Line following time in McHenry County with the Northwest Herald. Ben is also a graduate of the University of Illinois Springfield PAR program. He is a lifelong Illinois resident and is originally from Mundelein.
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