Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Indiana Democrats to push through the chaos of the presidential election Friday in Indianapolis, two days after seemingly expressing concerns over the party’s presidential campaign.
“If we stop worrying about whether they might call us woke, and instead worry about whether we’re actually waking people up, if we stop being so damn afraid of a little chaos and just embrace it, as the path from here to there, we will win,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker’s comments came at a dinner on the eve of the state Democratic Party’s convention to select nominees for attorney general and lieutenant governor and presidential delegates amid growing concerns about President Joe Biden’s age and ability to do the job.
Mike Schmuhl, Indiana’s Democratic party chair, told the IndyStar that while Biden did have a tough debate Biden will be nominated by delegates in Indiana.
“Joe Biden had a poor debate for debate performance, but Donald Trump is a convicted felon, and he’s been impeached twice. In our primary Joe Biden was unopposed,” he said. “So, 100% of our delegates will be pledged to President Joe Biden. When we congregate in Chicago, he is the nominee. He has the delegates to secure the nomination to accept it and secure it.”
Pritzker, a top Biden supporter, was caught on a hot microphone Wednesday discussing his concerns over the presidential race to an attendee at a public safety event, Chicago media reported.
“I mean, we’re just going to keep fighting. I don’t know what to say. You know, got to do what we have to do,” Pritzker was quoted as saying. “I don’t like where we are, but …”
A spokesperson later clarified that Pritzker was referring to Biden’s status as a candidate, according to reports.
Pritzker has been mentioned in Democratic circles as one of a handful of governors who could replace Biden on the ticket.
During a high-stakes press conference Thursday, Biden reaffirmed his intention to remain in the race but paid deference to the sovereignty of party delegates and the democratic process.
“They’re free to do whatever they want, but I’ve had overwhelming support,” Biden said. Biden answered in the affirmative when asked if they were free to vote for a different candidate.
As of Friday afternoon, at least 19 Democratic lawmakers had called for the president to drop out of the race.
Pritzker didn’t address growing concerns about Biden’s candidacy or his comments Friday, but did outline issues and his tumultuous path to Governor, when he didn’t decide to run until six months out from the election.
“Everyone I knew told me that I was crazy to run for governor. Honestly, the Democratic Party was not exactly crying out for a white, Ukrainian American Jewish billionaire,” he said.
Pritzker is also slated to speak in Ohio at a Democratic event in Columbus on Saturday.
The 2024 DNC will start Aug. 19 in Chicago, but due to an early deadline to make the Ohio ballot, the party plans to hold a virtual vote on the nomination prior to the convention.
Biden and other Democrats have previously stated that reelecting former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, would be a threat to American democracy.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Illinois Gov. Pritzker urges Indiana Democrats to push through chaos
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