Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he will continue the fight as a happy warrior as he seeks a third term as Illinois governor.

Pritzker made the announcement Thursday at the same Chicago Park District fieldhouse where he launched his first campaign eight years ago.

The governor said he has unfinished business.

“We’ve got to keep moving toward credit upgrades in our state, and we’ve got to make sure we’re funding K-12 education,” Pritzker said.

The governor discussed his values and accomplishments as he addressed supporters and fellow Illinois Democrats. The governor said he preferred optimism and criticized those who talked in negative terms about Illinois.

As his speech shifted from state to national politics, Pritzker criticized President Donald Trump, calling him a "megalomaniac narcissist” and referred to congressional Republicans as a “malignant clown car.”

Former Republican candidate for lieutenant governor Stephanie Trussell is running for the Illinois House seat currently held by state Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn. Trussell pointed to the governor’s record during his first two terms.

“Let’s talk about losing a congressional seat. Numbers don’t lie. People are fleeing Illinois. Let’s talk about all the major corporations that have moved their headquarters or much of their operations to other states that are friendlier to businesses,” Trussell told The Center Square.

When pressed by reporters, Pritzker would not promise that he would stay in office for a full four-year term. The governor has not ruled out a run for President of the United States in 2028.

Pritzker did not announce a running mate as he kicked off his campaign. Current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is running for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, who said he would not seek reelection.

Pritzker praised Stratton as “the best lieutenant governor” Illinois has ever had and said he would choose a replacement soon.

“They’ve got to be someone who could do the job if something happens and they had to take over and, I think just as importantly, somebody who has a heart for the people of the state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.

Trussell was Republican Darren Bailey’s running mate in 2022. In order to beat Pritzker, Trussell said Republicans can’t wait until three months before the election to campaign in Chicago.

“Those people have been showing up at City Hall meetings, begging to be red pilled, saying, ‘We’re not gonna vote for Democrats any more.’ It’s time for us to engage with a group of people that we thought were solid blue, but they’ve shown us recently that they share our values,” Trussell said “They want to join us in this effort to defeat J.B. Pritzker and everyone down in Springfield.”

Greg Bishop contributed to this report.