Lake County Gazette

IL GOP Chair Kathy Salvi has accused Governor J.B. Pritzker of "grandstanding" for a potential future presidential campaign by seeking federal funds without accountability while neglecting Illinois' $3 billion budget deficit and financial mismanagement. Salvi's remarks were made in a press release dated March 3.

"Governor Pritzker is grandstanding for his 2028 run for president instead of focusing on the mess that he's left with us in Illinois," said Salvi. "Since he's been the governor, now in his seventh budget address, he has raised our budget by $16 billion from a $39 billion budget initially to $55 billion. Pritzker's budget plan faces a $3 billion budget deficit. He has been given a blank check for the last four years."

According to Fox News, Salvi criticized Pritzker's letter urging the Trump administration to unfreeze $1.88 billion in federal funds, describing it as a political maneuver intended to support his rumored 2028 presidential bid. She accused Pritzker of overlooking Illinois’ economic issues, stating that his administration has expanded the state budget by $16 billion while failing to address high crime rates and financial mismanagement.

Pritzker, along with 16 Illinois Democrats, petitioned the Trump administration to release nearly $1.9 billion in frozen federal funds, citing concerns over potential layoffs and stalled projects. Salvi said that Pritzker is using this dispute as a diversion from Illinois’ $3 billion deficit and other budgetary challenges, calling for increased accountability in state spending.

"He has defied law since day one," Salvi said, according to Fox News. She further said that Pritzker has contributed to higher crime rates and educational issues in Chicago and accused him of using his influence in Washington to oppose the president's agenda for personal political gain.

Under Pritzker's leadership, Illinois' annual budget rose from $39 billion in 2019 to a proposed $55.2 billion for fiscal year 2026, an increase of $16.2 billion, as reported by Capitol News Illinois. Despite this growth, the Governor's Office of Management and Budget projected a $3.2 billion deficit for fiscal year 2026 due to rising expenditures in healthcare, pensions, and education alongside stagnant revenue growth.

Kathy Salvi hails from Waukegan, Illinois. She is an attorney specializing in personal injury law and has been serving as the Chair of the Illinois Republican Party since July 2024, according to Ballotpedia.