Pritzker Drops 80 Pounds And Hints At 2028 Bid

The Weight of a Presidency

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker confirmed that he has shed 80 pounds in just two years using GLP-1 medication. The billionaire governor made this revelation during interviews on Monday, sparking immediate speculation about a potential 2028 presidential campaign. He explicitly denied that this health journey was a setup for a future run for the White House.

Pritzker told reporters on “CBS Mornings” that the medication has been a game-changer for his personal health. He noted that he struggled with his weight since he was a young child. The governor shared that his father died of a heart attack at age 39 while playing tennis. He recalled watching his father die in his mother’s arms during that tragic moment in Hawaii.

Doctors told him he would need insulin for the rest of his life after a diabetes diagnosis. Pritzker started taking the GLP-1 drug two years ago and stopped insulin nine months ago. He now walks several miles along Lake Michigan each morning to stay active. The New York Post reported that he is currently running for re-election as governor this November.

A Family History of Heartbreak

This weight loss journey is deeply personal for Pritzker and tied to a family tragedy. He stated that he has been overweight most of his life, starting around age seven or eight. The Washington Examiner noted that he attributes some of his struggle to “bad genes” passed down from his family.

His father, Donald Pritzker, was an active man who suffered a sudden heart attack in May 1972. The governor described the scene where his mother held him as he passed away. Pritzker said he wanted to avoid that same fate for himself and his own family. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that he did not realize how much weight he had lost until he saw old photos.

President Donald Trump has frequently mocked Pritzker’s weight in the past, calling him a “fat slob.” Pritzker responded to those attacks by saying he now finds them funny. He noted that the president is also overweight but chooses not to discuss it publicly. The governor emphasized that the content of a person’s character matters more than their size.

The Question of Ambition

Despite the health news, Pritzker remains coy about his political future beyond this year. He told a reporter that he has not made any decisions about what he might do in the future. He insists he is focused on what is best for the people of Illinois right now. He wants to serve as governor for a while longer after winning re-election.

History shows that candidates often drop weight before seeking the presidency, though not always successfully. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lost 40 pounds before a failed 2016 bid. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also slimmed down before his own unsuccessful run. Pritzker joins a long list of politicians who try to improve their image before a big race.

The governor said he was driven his whole life to lose weight before the drugs were available. He told CBS that the new medication meant a lot to him personally. He stopped taking insulin nine months ago and feels a whole lot better now.