Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has named Christian Mitchell as his new running mate for the 2026 election. Mitchell is a former state representative and served as deputy governor in Pritzker’s administration until 2023. He currently works as vice president for civic engagement at the University of Chicago and serves in the Illinois Air National Guard.
Mitchell will replace current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton on the ticket, as she is running for U.S. Senate. Pritzker highlighted Mitchell’s role in major state initiatives, including clean energy legislation, infrastructure projects, and cannabis legalization. With continued speculation about a possible presidential run by Pritzker in 2028, Mitchell would be positioned to finish out the governor’s term if that were to happen.
