CHICAGO (AP) – Billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker was expected to announce his bid for Illinois governor on Thursday, raising the financial stakes in what was already expected to be a costly and competitive fight to unseat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“Grateful to have my family by my side today. Getting ready for the big announcement!” Pritzker tweeted Thursday morning above a picture with his family, including his young son who was holding a sign that read, “My Dad J.B. for Governor.”
Pritzker’s campaign confirmed the tweet but did not offer further details ahead of a planned afternoon announcement at a city park facility on Chicago’s South Side. Last month, Pritzker filed paperwork with state election officials to form an exploratory committee.
Several other Democrats also have said they’ll seek their party’s nomination in the March gubernatorial primary, including state Sen. Daniel Biss, Chicago Alderman Ameya Pawar and businessman Chris Kennedy, who is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy.
Last month, Kennedy donated $250,100 to his own campaign, a move that under Illinois campaign finance law lifted the caps on campaign contributions for all candidates.