Chambana Sun

Illinois state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) believes that Democrats should be among the least surprised by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s declining popularity.

“I think Democrats knew that this was going to happen and that’s why they passed all this bad legislation in the first session or the first few months of his term,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun. “They knew many of these policies wouldn’t be popular, but they figured let’s just get it out of the way.”

A new Morning Consult poll finds that over his first year in office, Pritzker’s disapproval numbers have climbed 13 points to a rating of 42 percent, making him one of the least popular governors in the U.S. Additional polling indicated that his approval numbers have remained in the low 40s and that he now ranks ahead of just six of 23 Democratic governors after enacting 20 new taxes and fee hikes as part of his first state budget.

Illinois state Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur)

“The agenda he’s pushed through, with all the tax hikes and the most liberal abortion bill in the country, is not how he campaigned,” Caulkins said. “As for his falling approval numbers, this is what happens when you hide your agenda from the people and are not forthright about what you plan to do”

As voters move closer to the polls for the 2020 elections, Caulkins said he hopes all these things remain fresh in their minds.

“It’s true he won’t be on the ballot then but here’s the thing – the governor can’t pass legislation,” Caulkins said. “All he can do is sign off on it, so I want voters to remember that as they prepare to vote in these House and Senate races. That’s where the change starts. Republicans need to be reminding voters of that over the next 12 months.”