Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has contributed nearly $39 million this election cycle to support Democratic candidates and causes beyond his home state, targeting races in traditionally conservative states including Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Although many of these contests are considered long shots for Democrats, Pritzker views the expanding competitiveness as an opportunity driven in part by former President Donald Trump’s declining popularity.

Pritzker’s involvement in Texas is particularly notable given his ongoing political rivalry with Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Last year, Pritzker welcomed a group of Texas Democratic lawmakers to Illinois as they sought to delay GOP efforts to redraw congressional districts favoring Republicans. Several of those lawmakers, including U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico and Abbott’s general election challenger Gina Hinojosa, now have the backing of Pritzker’s political action committee (PAC).

The Illinois governor is employing a similar strategy in other conservative states where Democrats seldom perform well but now see increased prospects. He said the political landscape has shifted enough that even districts typically leaning heavily Republican show Democrats running near parity in polls. His financial commitments extend to more than a dozen congressional races, including U.S. Senate contests in Mississippi and Kansas, as well as substantial donations to state Democratic parties and federal committee groups in key states.

Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC has spent over $13 million so far this cycle and pledged $20 million in total. Additional contributions include roughly $3.4 million to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s affiliated PACs. At the state level, Pritzker has donated $9 million across 20 states, with significant support for Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia, and Ohio.

Observers note that Pritzker’s outlays serve both to bolster Democratic chances in reach districts and to build alliances ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid. The investments also aim to strengthen ties with the influential Congressional Black Caucus after a contentious Illinois Senate primary where Pritzker backed Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton over incumbent Rep. Robin Kelly.

Among the races Pritzker is backing are several high-profile contests involving Black candidates, such as Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who faced expulsion from the legislature amid a gun control protest and is now running in a newly drawn district following Republican-led redistricting. Pritzker’s PAC reported nearly $1.7 million targeting the race of Rep. Shomari Figures in Alabama, as well as support for candidates in Arkansas, Ohio, and other states.

Some GOP officials have criticized Pritzker for spending heavily outside Illinois while Democrats campaign against wealthy Republican donors. Illinois Republican Chairman Bob Grogan called the governor’s out-of-state financial involvement “hypocritical” given the Democratic messaging this cycle.

Pritzker’s engagement in Texas also extends to down-ballot races. He contributed $25,000 to Jon Rosenthal, a Jewish candidate for Texas railroad commissioner who is opposing a Republican accused of making racist remarks about University of Texas students. Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu credited Pritzker’s assistance for elevating Rosenthal’s campaign.

While Texas Republicans remain well-organized, political analysts say Pritzker’s spending serves as a signal validating the competitiveness of Democratic efforts there and can influence other donors to follow suit. Pritzker himself emphasized the national importance of races like Texas for Democrats seeking to recapture control of the U.S. House. He framed his involvement as beneficial not only for the country but also for Illinois.

At home, Pritzker is poised for a third gubernatorial term and has invested over $90 million in his own and Illinois Democrats’ campaigns, more than double what he has spent outside the state. His pro-abortion rights group, Think Big America, has also raised $5 million—with Pritzker as the sole donor—and is backing abortion-related ballot initiatives in several states.

With control of the U.S. House hanging on a narrow margin, Pritzker’s widespread financial support and strategic targeting reflect an effort to expand Democratic opportunities beyond traditional battleground states and influence the makeup of the next Congress.