Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said Monday that he has lost 80 pounds over the past two years while taking a GLP-1 medication, revealing the treatment publicly for the first time in an interview with CBS News. Pritzker said he began taking the medication after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and has continued using it under his doctor’s guidance.

Pritzker, 61, said he had struggled with his weight since childhood and that the demands of serving as governor of Illinois contributed to additional weight gain. He also discussed his family history, noting that his father, Donald Pritzker, died of a heart attack at 39 while playing tennis.

The weight loss comes as Pritzker seeks a third term as Illinois governor and continues to draw attention as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028. During the CBS interview, reporter David Begnaud directly asked whether Pritzker's weight loss was connected to a possible presidential campaign. Pritzker rejected that explanation, saying he had wanted to lose weight throughout his life and had not decided what he might do after his current political plans.

Begnaud also pressed Pritzker to say whether he would rule out a 2028 presidential campaign. Pritzker did not do so, instead saying he was focused on what is best for Illinois. He has previously acknowledged the attention surrounding his possible national ambitions while emphasizing his current bid for reelection.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly mocked Pritzker over his weight, including during the 2024 campaign and again in 2025. Pritzker has occasionally responded to the subject with humor, including joking earlier this year that he had put “gov” in “Wegovy.”

Pritzker also said Illinois' state employee health insurance plan covers GLP-1 medications for about 55,000 state employees. He argued the coverage could reduce long-term costs by helping address diabetes and other health conditions associated with excess weight.

The governor has increasingly used his personal image as part of his public presence, including a recent social-media video aimed at younger voters. His disclosure about the medication now adds a personal health story to the broader political attention surrounding his reelection campaign and potential future ambitions.