Could a politician with plastics industry connections make it into the White House?
Some have tried, mostly notably Republican Jon Huntsman Jr.'s brief attempt that ended after the 2012 New Hampshire primary election. (Huntsman's family runs Huntsman Corp., a materials company founded by his father.)
Now Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has been visiting New Hampshire, apparently laying the groundwork for his own possible presidential run in 2024 — part of a busy field of candidates considering running if President Joe Biden doesn't seek reelection.
Pritzker and his brother, Tony Pritzker, founded Pritzker Group Private Capital, a holding firm that owns plastic sheet maker Plaskolite LLC and ProAmpac, the ninth-largest film and sheet maker in North America, according to Plastics News rankings.
As Greg Hinz from our sister paper Crain's Chicago Business writes, Pritzker has said he won't run if Biden seeks reelection but added that he "did absolutely nothing to cool potential interest from his party about a future potential candidacy for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.," during an appearance on CNN's State of the Union.
Pritzker also must prove his electability this year in Illinois as he seeks reelection.