Dem Governor Says The Quiet Part Out Loud, Fears Deportations Will Impact Elections

While appearing on CBS’ “Face The Nation” on Sunday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed fears that President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda could impact elections.

In a social media post Saturday, the president told Pritzker that he will be following through with his plan to deploy federal assets to Chicago in order to combat crime, disorder and assist with deportation efforts. “Six people were killed, and 24 people were shot, in Chicago last weekend, and JB Pritzker, the weak and pathetic Governor of Illinois, just said that he doesn’t need help in preventing CRIME,” Trump wrote.

“He is CRAZY!!! He better straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming! MAGA. President DJT.”

Additional reports have indicated that the federal government is gearing up for a massive immigration enforcement operation in the Windy City as early as next week. Details of the planned surge are unclear, though President Trump has not ruled out deploying National Guard personnel to assist with deportation efforts.

While speaking with CBS News, Pritzker raised eyebrows by claiming that immigration enforcement operations will have a negative effect on elections. The Democrat governor claimed that Trump has “other intentions” beyond fighting crime and described an increase in federal assets as an “attack on the American people.”

When asked about the supposed other aims, Pritzker claimed that Trump wants to “stop the elections in 2026” or “frankly, take control of those elections.”

In a separate press conference, the governor suggested that immigration enforcement operations will negatively affect Democrats in elections. “This is a part of his plan to do something really nefarious, which is to interfere with elections in 2026. He wants to have troops on the ground, to stop people from voting, to intimidate people from going to the voting booth. So, take note, that is what this is all about.”

Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have both vowed to “resist” the Trump Administration’s efforts in the state and are calling on city residents to “rise up.”

Johnson — whose approval rating currently sits near record lows — announced Saturday morning that he will be signing an executive order aimed at “stopping” the federal government’s efforts. According to a report from CNN, the mayor’s order will provide guidance and directives to the city’s agencies and law enforcement “in the midst of escalating threats from the federal government.”

Johnson’s order also directs city departments to “pursue all available legal and legislative avenues to resist coordinated efforts from the federal government.” The mayor concluded by telling the president to “stand down” and refrain from deploying federal assets to the city, though his efforts will likely prove unsuccessful.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the federal government aiming to stop the president’s federal takeover of the state’s National Guard earlier. That effort ultimately proved unsuccessful after a federal appeals court ruled that the president does indeed have the power to deploy National Guard personnel in order to quell the unrest that gripped Los Angeles for several days.