With just over a month until the March 17 primary, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday endorsed state Rep. Margaret Croke for the Democratic nomination for Illinois comptroller, bolstering the Chicago lawmaker’s bid against three challengers.
The endorsement, however, shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Before joining the Illinois House in 2021, Croke served in the Pritzker administration as deputy chief of staff at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, an agency that helps private entities acquire state money for infrastructure projects.
Croke, who chairs the Illinois House’s Financial Institutions and Licensing Committee, is also listed as a treasurer and board member of Think Big America, an organization founded by Pritzker dedicated to safeguarding reproductive rights. She’s also a former women’s outreach director for Pritzker’s campaign for governor.
“As Deputy Chief of Staff for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and in the legislature, Margaret Croke has always been committed to responsible fiscal management and improving the lives of hardworking Illinoisans,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Whether it’s advocating for job creation, reproductive rights, or the expansion of childcare, Margaret knows how to get things done.”
Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt Hotels fortune who is seeking a third term as governor, has contributed to Croke’s campaign before. In the fall of 2024, months before Croke announced her candidacy for comptroller, Pritzker’s campaign transferred $50,000 to Croke’s, according to Illinois State Board of Elections campaign finance records.
The records also show that as of the end of December, Croke led her three challengers with more than $830,000 in campaign cash on hand. Another candidate, state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago, reported having slightly more than $300,000 in her campaign coffers, followed by about $241,000 on hand for Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim of Mundelein and just under $100,000 for state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego.
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, from left, state Rep. Margaret Croke, state Sen. Karina Villa and Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim gather for pictures following a Democratic comptroller candidate forum at the Des Plaines Public Library on Feb. 6, 2026. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
The incumbent comptroller, Susana Mendoza, decided last year not to run for reelection. Mendoza is weighing a bid for Chicago mayor.
Croke has also secured a number of key endorsements, including from the Cook County Democratic Party, though by a paper-thin margin, eking out the organization’s endorsement last year by just 95 votes out of a weighted vote total of 549,705. Croke’s other Democratic endorsements include Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside, other state lawmakers, labor organizations, and several Chicago aldermen.
Croke said in a statement she’s “incredibly honored” to have Pritzker’s support.
“Every day, he stands up for Illinoisans and fights back against the Trump administration, and I’m proud that he believes I am the best person to serve as comptroller in this critical moment,” she said.
