Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), speculated to be raising his national profile ahead of a possible 2028 presidential bid, is launching a new political action committee that plans to invest at least $20 million in Democratic House candidates running in the midterm elections.
The Ready for the Fight PAC takes inspiration from a key phrase used by the Illinois Democrat at his campaign speeches: “Are you ready for the fight?” An ad featuring Pritzker speaking of President Donald Trump in light of the midterm elections was released on Tuesday.
“In 2026, we are battling Donald Trump,” the governor said, “and we ought to be fighting him every single day.”
To take the fight to Trump, Pritzker’s PAC is targeting Republican-held House seats nationwide. For instance, the committee plans to attack incumbent Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) on the air. Miller is particularly vulnerable this election cycle, as he continues dealing with the aftermath of domestic abuse allegations involving his ex-wife and child.
The PAC will also go after Brandon Herrera, the Republican nominee for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District. It was represented by former Rep. Tony Gonzales before he resigned due to sexual misconduct allegations involving an extramarital affair with a female staffer who died by suicide last year. The former congressman’s seat remains vacant.
Both Miller and Herrera are facing moderate Democrats in Republican-leaning districts this November. The Ready for the Fight PAC’s focus will be on congressional races that are either overlooked or competitive. Compared to Miller’s reelection bid, Herrera’s campaign could be considered overlooked.
Pritzker is traveling to Dallas this week to help Democrats counter the first-ever Republican midterm convention. The counter-programming is being orchestrated by Democratic lawmakers sent by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to the Texas city.
The two-day midterm convention will feature President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, among many other Republicans at the national level, onstage from Wednesday to Thursday. The Democratic Party is not hosting a similarly large convention this year.
Pritzker is focused on running for a third term as governor, but he is widely viewed as a possible 2028 presidential contender.
As he runs for reelection, Pritzker has repeatedly declined to rule out a future presidential campaign while promising to be heavily involved in the next national election cycle.
“What I can tell you, in ’28, I’m going to be very involved,” he said. “We have to restore and also improve the trajectory of the United States — and many of the problems that we’re currently facing, we faced in Illinois.”
In the meantime, the incumbent will face Republican candidate Darren Bailey in November. Given his polling lead, Pritzker will likely succeed in the general election.
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Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC is similar to others launched by possible Democratic presidential candidates, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) and her Fight Like Hell PAC. Her committee is focused on recruiting and training Democratic candidates and campaign staff in Michigan and across the nation this year.
Other Democrats speculated to be mounting 2028 presidential campaigns that have their own PACs to help candidates in the 2026 elections include Govs. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Andy Beshear (D-KY).