Pritzker 2024? Not so fast. Governor holds steady with support for Biden

His name increasingly listed as a potential replacement for President Joe Biden, Gov. JB Pritzker is again throwing water on those claims.

Pritzker, a Biden surrogate, returned to Illinois after a trip to Washington DC last week, meeting with other Democratic governors and the president to discuss the plan following a shaky presidential debate performance.

His first public appearance since that meeting, the governor said the conversation was "robust" and Biden answered pressing questions from the governors. Pritzker said he left the nation's Capitol feeling confident that the president will be able to withstand a challenge from former President Donald Trump, now moving ahead slightly in many nationwide and swing state polls.

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Another name making headlines is Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who told The Associated Press that she would not enter the race if Biden decided to step out. Asked if he would do the same, Pritzker said he "won't engage in any hypotheticals" and pointed to two events in Indiana and Ohio later this week to show his continued support for the president.

"You can see that I'm all in for Joe Biden," Pritzker told reporters at an unrelated event in Chicago on Tuesday. "Joe Biden is going to be the nominee of the Democratic Party. I'm going to go out there and wholeheartedly campaign for him."

"He's going to be at the (Democratic National Convention) in August accepting the nomination and I'll be cheering for him in the audience."

While Pritzker remains steadfast behind Biden, others in the party including U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, want him to step down. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, told reporters in Washington that Biden's debate performance prompted questions but still believes he can beat Trump in November.

Outside of their concern of a second Trump term, a small but growing number of Democrats worry Biden remaining on the ballot could hurt down-ballot candidates, thus giving Republicans a chance to pickup seats in Congress.

“Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude,” Quigley said in an interview with MSNBC on Friday. “The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”

Biden's path to victory in Illinois has not been in question, Democratic presidential candidates winning the Blue state in every election since 1988. Still, the presidential field shortened earlier on Tuesday with four long-shot new party and independent candidates being removed from consideration by the Illinois State Board of Elections since they lacked enough signatures.

Contact Patrick M. Keck: [email protected], twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Pritzker 2024? Not so fast. Governor ices talk of replacing Biden