Illinois Governor Slams His Own Party for Lacking 'Guts and Gumption': 'Do-nothing Democrats'

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered a pointed rebuke of his fellow Democrats during a speech in New Hampshire, saying the party is lacking the courage necessary to stand up to former President Donald Trump and is also abandoning key values to chase political viability.

Speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party's McIntyre-Shaheen 100 Club Dinner, Pritzker said some Democrats are "listening to a bunch of know-nothing political types" and criticized them for blaming election losses on the party's defense of marginalized communities.

"Those same do-nothing Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of Black people, of trans kids, of immigrants, instead of their own lack of guts and gumption," he said, according to The Associated Press.

The Illinois governor called on Democrats to embrace protest, mobilization, and disruption, stating, "Never before in my life have I called for mass protests... but I am now." He maintained that while the party might need to refine its messaging, "our values are exactly where they should be."

Pritzker's has been a stern critic of Trump policies. Just days after Trump's election in November, he raised his voice against deportations, vowing to protect undocumented immigrants in his state:

"I am going to do everything that I can to protect our undocumented immigrants. They are residents of our state. And I also, obviously, need to make sure that whatever they are doing in our state, the federal government, that it is actually within federal law or state law for them to do it"

Pritzker further distanced himself from Trump recently by issuing a hiring ban in Illinois on individuals pardoned by Trump for participating in the January 6 Capitol riot, describing their actions as "disgraceful conduct" that violated democratic principles.

As The Washington Post explained, Pritzker's speech was seen by some as an unofficial kickoff to his presidential aspirations:

"In a 2028 field that is likely to be dominated by governors, Pritzker has positioned himself as one of the most forceful and consistent critics of Trump's actions while pointing to his record in Illinois as a template for improving the lives of working-class voters"