Will County Gazette

Patrick Sheehan, a state representative from Illinois, has accused Governor JB Pritzker of prioritizing a potential future presidential bid over the needs of Illinois residents. Sheehan made this statement on the social media platform X.

"The class clown aka our Governor is at it again," said Patrick T Sheehan. "Blaming Texas while ignoring Illinois gerrymandered maps and spewing hypocrisy. Illinois has become an afterthought for our Governor. Illinois needs a change and IL Republican Party is ready to give it to our deserving citizens."

Governor J.B. Pritzker has been expanding his national political profile through various media appearances and campaign messaging while continuing to focus on governance within Illinois. According to Capitol News Illinois, Pritzker used the 2025 Illinois State Fair as an opportunity to advocate for a national Democratic strategy centered on working families and economic issues. Although some Illinois lawmakers support his broader ambitions, they have emphasized that there are no current plans to revise the state's redistricting maps.

The Associated Press reports that Illinois' 2021 congressional redistricting resulted in Democrats controlling 14 out of 17 House seats, despite receiving approximately 56% of the vote. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project identified five districts as among the most gerrymandered in the United States. Republican lawmakers have challenged these legislative maps, citing violations of compactness and fairness provisions in the state constitution.

Capitol News Illinois and other state political sources indicate that since 2023, Governor Pritzker has participated in national interviews, campaign events, and messaging initiatives while managing key state policies such as a budget surplus and minimum wage increases. Although specific data comparing his national versus in-state activities is unavailable, critics argue that his travel and media focus suggest ambitions beyond Illinois.

According to information from the Illinois General Assembly and Ballotpedia, Patrick Sheehan was appointed to represent Illinois’s 37th House District in April 2024 and was later elected to a full term that year. A former Plainfield police officer and Lockport alderman, he serves on committees related to public safety, education, revenue, and ethics. Sheehan positions himself as an advocate for local control and law enforcement support.