Prairie State Wire

Carrie Mendoza, a candidate for lieutenant governor of Illinois, criticized the failure to clearly denounce Zohran Mamdani as a reflection of "moral cowardice" and urged voters to remove Governor J.B. Pritzker from office. This statement was made in a press release.

"This is not just political cowardice, it's moral cowardice at its worst," said Mendoza, Lieutenant Governor Candidate. "If Pritzker, as a Jewish governor, can't condemn Mamdani outright as a dangerous, anti-Semitic politician, then he must be voted out."

In early 2025, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker publicly addressed New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani's remark that "billionaires shouldn’t exist." Pritzker said that Democrats can support wealth creation while still advocating for fairness. According to TIME, this exchange on Meet the Press highlighted broader intra-party tensions over progressive rhetoric and economic equity debates during 2024–2025, with Midwest officials contributing to the discussion.

Illinois residents have expressed growing concern over antisemitic incidents amid political controversies. NPR Illinois reported in April 2025 on the Anti-Defamation League’s annual report, which noted a sharp rise in antisemitic activity across Illinois in 2024. This prompted bipartisan condemnation and legislative briefings, influencing public attitudes toward officials' responses to these issues.

Governor J.B. Pritzker's approval ratings fluctuated throughout 2025 as political debates intensified. RiverBender cited an Illinois Policy Institute/M3 Strategies poll indicating that Pritzker's approval began at 51.9 percent at the start of summer but fell to 47.2 percent favorable and 50.2 percent unfavorable by August, suggesting declining support amid fiscal and political controversies following high-profile endorsements.

Carrie Mendoza is an emergency-room physician from Chicago and running mate to GOP gubernatorial candidate Ted Dabrowski. Capitol Fax and WTTW reported in September 2025 that she has over 25 years of clinical experience and focuses her campaign on healthcare quality, fiscal discipline, and state-level reform aligned with Dabrowski’s policy platform.