Illinois Governor JB Pritzker receives major union endorsement

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has received an endorsement for his education policies from the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the state’s largest union representing over 135,000 members. IEA President Karl Goeke praised Pritzker for his support of minimum teacher salary raises, efforts to prevent book bans, and funding for community colleges and universities.

Despite the endorsement, Pritzker faces pressure regarding several education-related decisions. He has yet to decide whether Illinois will participate in the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program, a tax credit initiative that allows individuals to donate to education nonprofits. While some Democratic governors have opted in, Pritzker has not publicly indicated his stance.

Additionally, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Chicago Teachers Union have called for action to address a growing school funding gap, which state data suggests increased by more than $1 billion in a single year. During a campaign event, Pritzker also criticized Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, labeling him an “existential threat” to public education.