Billionaire Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker explores something new in a 2028 run: Raising money

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker may be a billionaire, but should the Democrat run for president in 2028, he may for the first time accept fundraising dollars, NBC News has learned

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker may be a billionaire, but should the Democrat run for president in 2028, he may for the first time accept fundraising dollars, NBC News has learned.

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Two people involved in discussions around Pritzker strategy said while the governor has not pulled the trigger on a 2028 campaign, he has given early signs that he would not self-finance — at least not entirely. Pritzker has reached out to operatives who have national fundraising experience and internally discussed what digital fundraising might look like, a person with knowledge of the conversations said.

For the governor seeking a third term in Illinois, it would be the first time he ever looked to fundraise from donors. He first ran for governor in 2018, leaning on his personal wealth.