Illinois Governor JB Pritzker minimized the significance of Vice President Kamala Harris’ choice of a running mate, despite speculation that he is among the leading contenders for the role.
“Over the past decades, we’ve shown that selecting a vice president doesn’t dictate whether you’ll win a state,” the Democratic governor stated during his appearance on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “What it does influence is whether you have the right message overall.”
These remarks come as Pritzker is thought to be one of the potential candidates to partner with Harris on the Democratic ticket. However, a recent NBC news report suggested that the candidate pool has been narrowed down to Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
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Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting on September 19, 2023, in New York City. (John Nacion/WireImage)
However, some reports have speculated that the governor is at least being considered by the Harris campaign and has received vetting materials, which Pritzker did not comment on during his interview on Sunday.
“I’m not going to discuss that. What I want to focus on is what truly matters in this campaign: winning and defeating Donald Trump,” Pritzker stated on “This Week.”
Regarding the prospect of defeating former President Trump in the upcoming election, Pritzker expressed that “the electorate is energized” since Harris began her campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris arrives for a campaign event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 23, 2024. (Daniel Steinle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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“Democrats are prepared to move forward… Her message resonates with the public,” Pritzker said regarding Harris, who officially took over as the top candidate last week.
The Illinois governor highlighted Harris’ background as a prosecutor, arguing her experience would be impactful against Trump, who is grappling with various legal issues since leaving the presidency.
Governor J.B. Pritzker noted that the “electorate is energized” since Vice President Harris kickstarted her campaign. (John Nacion/WireImage/Getty Images)
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“She’s someone who knows that winning is about making the case… consistently prosecuting the case, especially against a 34-time convicted felon and, honestly, a habitual liar,” Pritzker asserted.
The Harris campaign did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
