GOP: Pritzker 2026 Troop Accusations "Fearmongering"
Governor Pritzker speaks in front of Trump Tower in Chicago last month. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
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A top Republican critic of Governor JB Pritzker is accusing the Governor of “fearmongering” and promoting “conspiracy theories” following Pritzker’s assertion twice last week that President Donald Trump is planning to have troops in Illinois during the 2026 election.
“This is a part of his plan to do something really nefarious, which is to interfere with elections in 2026,” Pritzker said Thursday in southern Illinois. “He wants to have troops on the ground to stop people from voting, to intimidate people from going to the voting booth. Take note, that is what this is all about.”
He reiterated the statement Friday in south suburban Sauk Village.
“[Trump is] defunding police, he’s defunding our efforts to fight crime so that he can send troops into the City of Chicago for one reason,” Pritzker said. “I want everybody to pay attention what the reason is: it’s about the elections in 2026 and interrupting out ability to have a free and fair election in 2026.”
“Governor Pritzker is spinning wild conspiracy theories about troops stopping the 2026 election. It’s pure fearmongering,” said Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park), who serves on the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. “Instead of inventing scare stories, he should focus on fixing Illinois’ broken finances, rising crime, and the families fleeing our state.”
Pritzker’s office responded to questions about the source of his comments Tuesday by linking two stories, one from the Washington Post in 2020 and a column from syndicated columnist Ron Brownstein this week which makes no direct accusation that Trump will use the military to influence the 2026 election.
We asked Gov. Pritzker’s office Monday where Pritzker was basing his statement from, but haven’t heard back. It doesn’t appear as if President Trump has said publicly, or his administration has issued plans, related to troops and the 2026 election.
