>> Voters in Illinois have a couple more hours to cast their ballots.

Democrats are looking to hold onto all statewide elected offices.

Attorney General Secretary of state comptroller treasurer, and of course, governor in that race, Democrat JB Pritzker is seeking a 3rd term running against Republican Darren Bailey and independent Collin Corbett.

Our Nic Bloomberg joins us now from per Pritzker's Election night event at Navy Pier with more.

Nic.

>> Brandis.

That's right.

We are down here at beautiful Navy Pier.

I'm here with a pair of the governor's chief of staff.

Thank you for making some time to speak with us.

I know been busy night.

I know.

So, you know, the governor beat a former state lawmaker Darren Bailey by nearly 13 points last year.

Obviously, you know, I'm sure you're hopeful for a similar result this But, you know, of course, the governor's also had a national presence this year, both as a as a campaigner and as a donor.

What was the significance of having him, you know, make his presence known on the national stage?

I think what the governor would say is that what's good for the country is good for Illinois.

And what's good for the country right now is to get Democrats elected to the Senate.

The House to regain power in both the House and the Senate and just start to roll back some of the worst parts of the Trump agenda, especially the stuff that was passed as part of HR one.

The big beautiful bill that have really hurt Illinois putting cuts of snap benefits.

We had FEMA requests tonight for the first time really ever for parts of our state that were hit by bad storms.

>> And what the governor really intent on doing any senescence whole career is making sure that we elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

Everyone.

And of course, a lot of folks have, you know, ask questions about whether Governor Pritzker is perhaps going to be seeking higher office at some point.

I know something.

I'm sure you've been asked you know, to do you think there's any concern that Illinois will voters in this election might be turned off by the idea that the governor is is looking past, you know, his his role top of the state.

I think Illinois voters love that their governor is a fighter.

I think they love that.

He goes out and he's not afraid to say what used to be said to do what needs to be done when I'm with the governor, which is fairly frequently, people come up to him all the time and they're just like thank you for doing what you do.

>> And I I think what's good for the country is good for Illinois.

And I also think that Illinois, an Illinois are used to being leaders in the country like we produced right?

A few presidents.

We've produced some amazing senators.

I think that they expect their politicians to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

And that's something that the governor does really well.

A lot of Democrats hoping for a blue wave tonight, hoping for, you know, some wins in states that are, you know, seen as a battleground that maybe, you know, 2 or 4 years ago were and what are some of the races that >> that you're going to be watching for tonight?

We're watching all of the Senate races.

I will tell you one that we really have our eye on his Texas, both the Senate and the governor's race.

It is incredibly personal to As you now.

>> Governor Abbott of Texas sent women and children in the dead of night with no coat snowshoes here to Chicago as part of a political ploy a few years ago.

And took care of those people did what we could to help them find shelter and housing jobs and and many to play Texas National Guard to Illinois.

So we're paying very close attention to that race really important.

The governor and I think we have an amazing candidate and will sit down there and I'm really hopeful that we'll have well that we will see a political earthquake tonight.

We've got about 30 seconds left.

But before we let you go, you know, Darren Bailey made more of an effort this time to campaign in the Chicago area, try to make some inroads with voters that were not his focus you know, at the previous race.

Do you think there is perhaps a chance that he will peel away some votes from Governor Pritzker?

>> I think that the governor will have a very good tonight.

I I'm glad, though, that they're really did not.

I don't think it's good for our state when people pretend like there's one part of the state that they shouldn't represent or be part of and Emily's past elections.

Here pretty awful.

The things he said about Chicago.

you got to be the governor and the whole state.

And I think that that's what Governor Pritzker has been for the last 8 years.

Wright and