Poll: Voters split on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s job performance, increasing pressure for taxpayer-friendly budget address
Illinois Policy Institute poll results show high taxes remain a top concern for voters

CHICAGO (Feb. 18, 2025) – As Gov. J.B. Pritzker prepares to share his budget plans for fiscal year 2026 tomorrow, including how to close a projected $3 billion deficit, new polling shows voters want him to stay away from the tax hikes he’s used in the past.

Polling from the Illinois Policy Institute’s latest Lincoln Poll found high taxes and state governance are the two most pressing issues to Illinois voters, with 52% of voters identifying high taxes as the top issue facing the state right now. State governance had 26% of voters concerned.

In addition, poll results highlight a conflicting view over Pritzker’s leadership and vision for the state. The institute found 46.6% of voters had an unfavorable view of Pritzker and 50% had a favorable view, while 47.8% of respondents stated that they would move out of Illinois if given the opportunity to do so.

“Tax hikes are not the right solution to close budget deficits,” said Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic analysis at the Illinois Policy Institute. “Time and time again, we’ve said tax hikes lead to sluggish economic growth, people and businesses leaving the state and fewer jobs and opportunities for workers. Pritzker’s tenure has resulted in making Illinois an increasingly more expensive place to live. How he decides to navigate this next budget could be detrimental to the state’s future as well as his public reputation.”

Between 2020 and 2025, Illinois saw a brief reprieve from decades of budget deficits thanks to $35 billion in federal pandemic funds and windfall revenue. State leaders used some of that money for fiscal repairs, but most – $21.5 billion – was used to pad rising spending. In total, Illinois’ annual budget has ballooned by over $17 billion since 2015.

Illinois Policy Institute experts are available to offer commentary on Illinois’ budget before and after Pritzker’s address.

This poll was conducted for the Illinois Policy Institute in partnership with M3 strategies, surveying 510 likely voters in Illinois from January 21- 25, 2025 with a +/- 4.43 percentage point margin of error.

Poll toplines are available here.

To read more about Pritzker’s polling results and the budget, visit illin.is/pritzkerpoll.

For interviews or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.