Bears CEO, Chicago Business Leaders Back Pritzker For VP: Report

ILLINOIS — As Vice President Kamala Harris secured the Democratic Party's nomination for president Friday, a number of high profile Illinois business leaders, including Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren, are hoping she chooses Gov. JB Pritzker to be her running mate. Harris won enough votes from Democratic delegates to win the nomination, according to the Democratic National Committee.

When the DNC holds its convention in Chicago later this month (Aug. 19-22), Pritzker could be at Harris' side, as NBC News is reporting he was vetted twice this week for the spot and is one of six candidates currently in contention to be on the ticket. Others being considered include Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

According to Crain's Chicago Business, 42 Chicago leaders sent a letter to Harris Thursday stating their support of Pritzker as her running mate. Among those to sign are Warren, GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks, Allstate CEO Tom Wilson, Loop Capital CEO Jim Reynolds, Sterling Bay executive and Crown family scion Keating Crown, Jennifer Scanlan, CEO of UL Solutions, and John Rogers Jr., chairman of Ariel Investments.

Pritzker reaffirmed his support for Harris' candidacy Friday, saying he's "proud to be one of the many Democrats who voted to nominate the next President of the United States [Harris]." Harris is the first Black woman and first Asian-American to lead the ticket of a major party

"Kamala Harris has everything it takes to lead us to victory, and we have her back in the fight ahead," Pritzker said in a social media post earlier this week. "I'm proud to endorse her and reaffirm my commitment to doing whatever it takes to beat Donald Trump and his MAGA allies this November."

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