Politics
Pritzker gives Georgia Democrat a $1 million boost amid steep fundraising gap
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is directing $1 million to a committee supporting Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms. Republican contender Rick Jackson has raised far more, largely from his own fortune, in a closely watched race.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is giving $1 million to a Georgia committee backing Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms, adding to her campaign’s resources as she faces a major fundraising disadvantage against Republican candidate Rick Jackson.
The contribution, reported Oct. 20, is being sent to Project Battleground, a leadership committee that raises money in partnership with Bottoms’ campaign. The committee can accept donations without contribution limits, unlike a candidate’s campaign committee.
Jackson, a former health care executive and billionaire, has raised a combined $118 million for his gubernatorial bid and his contested Republican primary against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, according to Georgia campaign finance records. Most of that money came from Jackson’s personal fortune. He has spent five times as much as Bottoms in the governor’s race, according to the reported figures.
Bottoms’ campaign has raised $5.7 million, while Project Battleground has collected another $3.4 million to support her. Pritzker’s $1 million would add a substantial sum to that effort, though the financial gap with Jackson remains wide.
The donation is part of Pritzker’s broader effort to support Democrats in competitive races during the 2026 midterms, with a particular focus on Black and Hispanic candidates. The Illinois governor, a billionaire who has been discussed as a possible 2028 presidential candidate, has increasingly used his personal wealth to help Democratic campaigns outside his state.