Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decision to welcome Texas Democrats to Illinois, framing the state as a sanctuary for lawmakers seeking to block partisan redistricting efforts in Texas, offers a timely diversion from his mounting problems closer to home.
While Pritzker works to draw the national spotlight, Illinois residents are increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with him.
Recent polling by the Illinois Policy Institute shows Pritzker’s approval has dipped underwater: 47% view him favorably, while more than 50% hold an unfavorable opinion.
Even more troubling is over half of Illinois residents would relocate if they had the means. They overwhelmingly cited high taxes as their main concern: 60% said it was the top issue, followed by worries about governance, the economy, crime and migration.
These concerns are valid. In 2025, Illinois will impose the highest combined state and local tax burden in the nation on households earning the median U.S. income. That tax burden is $13,099, or more than 16.5% of annual earnings. It’s $4,472 more than the national average and nearly 52% more than what most Americans pay. Families can save over $5,000 a year simply by moving to Indiana.
Despite receiving over $53 billion in federal COVID relief – with $11.8 billion eligible to be used directly by the state for operational and one-time expenses – Pritzker has grown Illinois’ budget by $16 billion and enacted over 50 tax hikes.
Nearly all neighboring states, except Michigan, have reduced income taxes, exacerbating Illinois’ competitive disadvantage and fueling an exodus of residents.
Illinois consistently ranks as one of the top states for residents moving out. Illinois lost 56,235 residents in 2024, placing third only after California and New York.
Those leaving are disproportionately higher income earners, eroding the state’s tax base. In 2022, Illinois lost over 23,000 residents who each made more than $200,000, with a total loss of 86,693 residents and $9.9 billion in wealth.
The fiscal outlook continues to deteriorate. Even after closing fiscal year 2025 with record revenues, Illinois faces a persistent budget deficit with no true surplus in sight. Instead, lawmakers have resorted to temporary fixes and almost $1 billion dollars in additional taxes and funding gimmicks in a record, $55.2 billion budget. Chicago – the state’s economic engine – struggles with structural deficits exceeding $1.12 billion and looming financial pressures from rising pension and contract costs.
At the same time, the policy of offering “sanctuary” has not come cheap. Since July 2022, state and local governments in Illinois have spent an estimated $2.84 billion providing support and services to undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. Illinois is one of just a few states offering near-Medicare level benefits to this population, adding to already considerable budget pressures.
As Pritzker joins Texas lawmakers in denouncing gerrymandering, the contrast with Illinois – often cited as one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation – cannot be overlooked. Texas, ranked 40th in overall tax burden, has attracted tens of thousands of former Illinoisans, most of them middle- and upper-income earners looking for opportunity and relief.
The bottom line: while state leaders claim progressive vision, the reality for many Illinois residents is one of higher taxes, deteriorating fiscal stability and continued outmigration – especially among those most capable of supporting the state’s future. It’s past time for Pritzker and other Illinois leaders to worry about putting out fires at home instead of the troubles half a country away.
