Pritzker, Duckworth energize Illinois Democrats on first day of Democratic National Convention

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois Democrats kicked off the Democratic National Convention in Chicago with energetic speeches from Gov. JB Pritzker and other top leaders Monday morning.

Pritzker said he is grateful for President Joe Biden's time in office, but Illinois Democrats are also fired up to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in 78 days.

"Like a pairing of a great craft beer from Illinois with the tastiest Chicago hotdog, Kamala Harris chose my friend Tim Walz to be her running mate," Pritzker said. "So, we all get to brag about Kamala and the coach."

Gov. JB Pritzker spoke during an Illinois DNC delegate breakfast on August 19, 2024.

Pritzker told supporters that MAGA Republicans are attacking the environment and voting against education, science and new jobs.

"It's almost as if Republicans don't want working families to succeed," Pritzker said. "They're obsessed with other things though like explaining away Donald Trump's 34 felony fraud convictions or whitewashing the fact that JD Vance said he hates police and wants to raise taxes on people who don't have children."

Sen. Tammy Duckworth said Joe Biden is similar to George Washington in the fact that he stepped away from the halls of power for the good of the nation. Duckworth said Biden is one of the greatest presidents in US history, and she knows he is committed to getting more work done over the next few months.

"He is about getting his agenda across the finish line in the time he has left," Duckworth said. "And I think he's going to be even more active post-presidency with getting many of his agenda done."

While Illinois Republicans claimed to be united behind Trump at the RNC last month, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch argued Democrats can bring everyone together behind common sense.

"You're going to see progressive voices, moderate voices. You're going to see that everyone's voices are included in the Democratic party and our platform," Welch told reporters. "That's why we're going to be able to bring those people in to vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."

Welch said he hopes to use momentum from the Harris-Walz ticket to get more Democrats elected in the House. Democrats already hold a supermajority with 78 of the 118 Illinois House seats.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will welcome Democrats to the United Center Monday night. Pritzker is expected to speak to supporters Tuesday night. You can watch coverage of the DNC on WAND starting at 9 p.m.

"The goal of this week is to send the message of what happens when you have progressive policies and what happens when you have policies that support working families, when you invest in education, when you bring down the cost of prescription drugs," Duckworth added. "What happens when Democrats are in charge is we get to move forward."