IL Officials React To Trump Win: 2024 Election
ILLINOIS — While some Illinois political leaders quickly reacted to former President Donald Trump's victory in Tuesday's election over Vice President Kamala Harris, others took an extra day to process what it might mean for the state and the country.
"This morning, our most vulnerable communities woke up to a new uncertainty about their future, scared their rights will no longer be protected, and unsure whether this national still stand with them," Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement released Wednesday.
Pritzker, one of Trump's most vocal critics, added that anyone feeling "unsafe and unwelcome," including women concerned about their healthcare, has an "ally" in Illinois and "will always be welcome here."
At August's Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Pritzker, a billionaire, questioned Trump's wealth, saying the president-elect "is rich in only one thing — stupidity."
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin waited an extra day to comment, releasing a statement on social media Thursday morning.
"While the Administration will change in January, my belief in the promise of this country never will," Durbin said. "I promise to work with all of my strength each day in the Senate to look out for the most vulnerable among us, to ensure liberty and equality for every person, and to uphold the rule of law and the bedrocks of our democracy."
Fellow U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) said she was "deeply, deeply disappointed" by the results of the election.
"But make no mistake: my Democratic colleagues and I — unlike many Republicans in 2020 — will uphold the will of the American people, fulfill our constitutional duty and help ensure a peaceful transfer of power," Duckworth said.
Contrasting the sentiment of Democratic leaders was Illinois Republican Party Chair Kathy Salvi, who in a statement released Wednesday said the results mark "a brighter future" for the nation and state.
"President Trump's administration brought us prosperity four years ago and will do so again by securing our border, bringing down the cost of living for families, and protecting our individual liberties," Salvi said. "Illinois made massive strides last night, reflecting the foundation we are building to bring in new voters and compete with the billionaire governor and his band of cronies in Springfield."
Salvi noted the party will now shift focus to the 2026 midterms, with "only 727 days" until they occur.
Though Harris won Illinois, it was by a lesser margin than President Joe Biden did in 2020. Harris won Illinois by a margin of 53.4 percent to Trump's 45.2 percent, or a difference of 432,819 votes, according to unofficial totals. That's a slimmer margin than 2020, when President Joe Biden won Illinois by 55.6 percent of the vote to Trump's 42.6 percent, or by nearly 700,000 votes.
