JB Pritzker Reveals 80-Pound GLP-1 Weight Loss as 2028 Bid Signals Grow
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 21
JB Pritzker Reveals 80-Pound GLP-1 Weight Loss as 2028 Bid Signals Grow
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 21
Summary
CBS Mornings aired Pritzker’s disclosure that he has lost 80 pounds since starting a GLP-1 regimen in 2024, a highly personal reveal that sharpened speculation about a 2028 presidential run.
Pritzker tied the change to long-running struggles with weight, saying the drugs finally made sustained loss possible at a moment when he has already been traveling to early primary states.
His political moves have extended beyond travel: the Illinois governor has launched a group to spend money helping Democrats in the midterms, adding to signs he is building a national profile.
About 11% of U.S. adults are taking GLP-1 drugs, potentially making the billionaire Hyatt heir’s use of them more relatable to Democratic voters wary of ultrawealthy candidates.
The disclosure fits a familiar campaign pattern—Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and Cory Booker all slimmed down before presidential bids, while Al Gore’s 2007 weight loss fueled run rumors that never materialized.