Ted Dabrowski, a gubernatorial candidate for Illinois, addressed supporters at a Meet and Greet event held at the Honey Bee Cafe. He criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker’s assertion that Illinois is the most progressive state, stating that this claim coincides with weak economic and population growth.
“Gov. Pritzker says that ‘Illinois is the most progressive state in the nation,’ which has come at a terrible cost to Illinois’ dynamism, competitiveness and growth,” said Dabrowski. “Since 2019, Illinois has suffered the nation’s 4th-worst job growth, the 6th-worst GDP growth, and the 7th-worst wage growth. With such dismal results, it’s no wonder that Illinois has suffered the nation’s 3rd-worst population losses since 2020.”
At the event, Dabrowski argued that Pritzker’s declaration masks a record of sluggish growth and population loss. He pointed to lagging jobs, GDP, and wages as evidence that the governor’s progressive agenda has negatively impacted Illinois’ dynamism and competitiveness, driving families and employers to more favorable states. Dabrowski presented his campaign as a corrective measure aimed at restoring pro-growth policies, fiscal discipline, and opportunities for workers and small businesses across the state.
According to analyses of Illinois’ economy since 2019, the state consistently ranks near the bottom in national rankings for key measures such as employment and output growth. Research from the Illinois Policy Institute and other groups using federal labor and economic data indicates that job creation in Illinois has trailed most states during Pritzker’s first term. The Civic Federation reports describe elevated unemployment rates, weak employment gains, and sluggish real GDP compared to peer states.
Population data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Illinois as one of the leading states in terms of population loss in recent years. Reports from outlets like Governing and Forbes highlight significant net outflows as residents move to faster-growing states in the South and West. Other research indicates that a majority of Illinois communities have experienced population declines since the last census.
Dabrowski is a conservative policy analyst and Republican gubernatorial candidate who previously led Wirepoints, an Illinois-based research organization known for its work on taxes, pensions, outmigration, and economic competitiveness. Before Wirepoints, he served as vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and worked in international banking with Citibank in Mexico and Poland. His campaign advocates reversing progressive policies to cut taxes and make Illinois more attractive to families, entrepreneurs, and job creators.
