Chicago City Wire

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s approval rating has turned negative for the first time since he took office, according to a new Lincoln Poll conducted by M3 Strategies for the Illinois Policy Institute. The survey of 752 likely voters in Illinois, taken from July 15-18 with a margin of error of +/- 3.57 percentage points, shows a shift in public opinion since late January, when a slim majority still approved of his job performance.

The poll found that high taxes are the most pressing issue for Illinois residents, followed by concerns about state governance, the economy, and crime. Since Pritzker assumed office in 2019, taxes have increased nearly $5,000 for a family of four.

“These favorability numbers are not good for someone considering a presidential run. Even among liberals, he is down over 8 percentage points since the start of the year,” said Mark Batinick, policy advisor for the Illinois Policy Institute. “Illinoisans are beginning to recognize that the state’s challenges are being made worse by aggressive tax hikes, excessive spending and financial mismanagement.”

Governor Pritzker has faced criticism after signing legislation that increases Chicago’s pension liabilities by $11.1 billion. His recently enacted fiscal year 2026 budget also set a new spending record and raised taxes by an additional $482 million. These actions have added pressure on families and businesses already affected by what many see as a heavy tax burden.

Since taking office, Pritzker has expanded Illinois’ budget by $16 billion and implemented more than 50 tax increases.

Poll toplines can be accessed at illin.is/pritzkerpoll.

For further information about the Lincoln Poll, visit illin.is/pritzkerpoll.