Christian Mitchell, a former South Side state representative and deputy governor-turned-University of Chicago executive, will join Gov. JB Pritzker as the Democratic incumbent’s running mate on the reelection campaign trail.
Pritzker on Tuesday named Mitchell as his lieutenant governor candidate, putting a “proven leader with deep experience, steady judgment and an unshakable commitment to the working families of Illinois” at the top of the ticket.
That’s according to the billionaire governor who’s considering a run for president in 2028 that, if successful, would leave Mitchell in the governor’s office.
“Whether it’s transforming our clean energy future, rebuilding our infrastructure or keeping our communities safe, Christian has been a force behind so much of our progress,” Pritzker said in a statement. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner to continue delivering results for the people of Illinois.”
Mitchell, 38, is a longtime Pritzker confidant who shepherded some of the governor’s biggest policy priorities through the Illinois General Assembly.
“The governor and I stayed close, even during the time I was in the private sector. We’re both nerds about policy and about the state of Illinois,” Mitchell told the Sun-Times. “He’s certainly been the best governor of my lifetime, so the chance to come back and try to help him finish the job is really exciting.”
A former three-term representative of the 26th District stretching from River North to South Shore, Mitchell left the House to join Pritzker’s administration as a deputy governor in 2019, overseeing the rollout of a $45 billion capital infrastructure upgrade plan and spearheading landmark climate legislation aiming to wean Illinois off fossil fuels.
Mitchell also was a “key force” behind the state’s recreational cannabis industry rollout, according to Pritzker’s campaign, and when COVID-19 hit, he was in charge of procuring scarce supplies like masks and ventilators for the state.
Mitchell served as executive director of the Illinois Democratic Party in the 2018 election cycle, and the former advisor to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle also previously held prominent campaign roles for former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and former President Barack Obama.
Mitchell left the administration in 2023 to become vice president of civic engagement at the University of Chicago, and he was tapped last year by Pritzker to join the clout-heavy board of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority.
“The only thing that could have pulled me away from it was an opportunity like this one,” said Mitchell, an Illinois Air National Guard first lieutenant. “With all the craziness we’re seeing out in Washington — I mean, it’s utterly insane that the Republican majority [in Congress] right now is trying to take away health care from millions of Americans, cut food assistance for poor children and destroy our chance at winning the race for a clean energy future… We’re going to continue fighting to make sure we uplift working families here and invest in health care.”
Mitchell’s candidacy ensures a person of color remains atop the ticket with Pritzker in his bid for a third term, as current Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton gives up the post to run for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be relinquished by Dick Durbin.
Advocates from the Illinois Latino Agenda had pushed Pritzker to select a Latino running mate, while Democratic operatives had floated a parade of names for the coveted role in Pritzker’s high-powered campaign.
The list included state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria; state Rep. Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, whom Pritzker helped elevate to chair of the Illinois Democratic Party; and former state senator and current deputy governor Andy Manar, Pritzker’s budget point person.
Mitchell, a Bronzeville resident, also makes it another all-Chicago ticket for the statewide election. Pritzker lives in Gold Coast. Stratton is also from Bronzeville.
Besides being first in the line of succession to the governor’s office, lieutenant governors don’t have specific responsibilities assigned by the Illinois constitution beyond those “that may be delegated to him by the Governor.”
But the role potentially takes on an added importance this time around if Pritzker ascends to the White House. The governor has sidestepped questions about committing to serving another full four-year term if he’s reelected.
“I think he’d make a terrific president, but I also think he’s running for reelection as governor,” Mitchell said. “I do think it is very exciting for the people of Illinois that we’re talking about an Illinois governor running for president, and not running from prison.”
Republican governor candidates are still lining up. Former DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick has thrown his hat in the ring for governor along with south suburban mechanic Phil Perez and former north suburban congressional candidate Joseph Severino. U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, Cook County GOP chair Aaron Del Mar and former Illinois National Republican Committeeman Richard Porter also are considering bids for governor.