Pritzker’s endorsement gets blowback

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Chicago Tribune Opinion

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Good morning.

Politics are in the air. There are a little over two weeks before Illinois' primary, and the editorial board notes an odd phenomenon in this election cycle — the unusually fraught nature of political endorsements. Exhibit A is Gov. JB Pritzker's backing of his lieutenant governor for U.S. Senate.

In a second editorial, the board applauds the groundbreaking of the new Chicago Fire stadium on the South Loop tract known as The 78 while ruing the shortsighted decision years ago not to bid to be a host city for the upcoming World Cup.

Jennifer Tescher, a longtime analyst of Chicago's economy and particularly how it works (or doesn't) in less fortunate parts of the city, has a piece that may surprise you with some of its findings on how ordinary Chicagoans are faring economically.

Jim Nowlan, a former GOP state representative in Illinois and frequent writer for us, laments the steep social price the state is paying for its budgetary reliance on gambling.

And Travis Whitlock, general manager of Chicago's Studebaker Theater, writes of the importance of symbols to who we are as a people. His piece centers on the rehanging of the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York City.

Of course, we have readers' letters for you as well. Enjoy your Thursday, and we'll return tomorrow.

— Steve Daniels, editorial board member

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