The Illinois State Fair is home to many iconic American traditions and Midwestern staples, from 4H displays to corndogs and lemon shake-ups. This year, for the second time in a row, it was also home to the American tradition of welcoming new citizens through naturalization.
The ceremony fell on Governor’s Day, with Gov. JB Pritzker front and center in welcoming nearly 400 naturalized Americans hailing from over 70 different countries. Participants in the ceremony stood as their nations were called one by one, before raising their right hands to swear allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States.
“It feels perfect to put the best traditions of America on display in the same time and place that we put the best traditions of the state of Illinois on display,” Pritzker said.
Pritzker was joined on stage by Illinois Democratic legislators U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski.
Durbin, Duckworth and Pritzker all relayed their own family’s immigration stories, with Durbin recounting a visit to his mother’s hometown in Lithuania, Duckworth speaking fondly of her mother who gained American citizenship in her 50s, and Pritzker telling the tale of his great-grandfather who settled in Illinois as a Ukrainian refugee of anti-Semitic violence over 140 years ago.
“His story and mine are only possible because of the promise of this great nation,” Pritzker said of his great-grandfather. “In a few minutes you will swear an oath. With that oath will come opportunity. America is a land of freedom, hope and potential. But with that opportunity comes an extraordinary responsibility: to help us to build a more perfect union here.”
Budzinski also spoke to the responsibilities that come with U.S. citizenship, emphasizing the citizens’ newfound right to participate in electoral processes.
“Becoming a citizen doesn’t just give you a passport, it gives you a voice, a powerful one. A voice in your community, your workplace, your schools, and now in our democracy,” Budzinski said.
Following the ceremony, Pritzker joined high profile Illinois Democrats for a rally to thank supporters for their work and gather energy ahead of the 2026 midterms. Speakers at the rally positioned Democrats in opposition to President Donald Trump and recent GOP cuts.
“The work we do is essential because Donald Trump and (the) Illinois GOP is hell bent on harming our working families, taking away our food, taking away SNAP, diminishing our health care access, scapegoating our immigrants,” said Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez, chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton sought to define an identity for the Democrats beyond simply countering Trump.
“We are not just going to fight against the chaos in Washington, but we as Illinois Democrats know what we are fighting for,” Stratton said. “We’re fighting to make life more affordable for everyday Illinoisans. We are fighting to create economic opportunities for middle-class families, and we are fighting to defend and protect our rights and our freedoms because all of that is at stake right now.”
Despite much speculation regarding the governor’s recent forays into the national stage and his own recent refusal to rule out a presidential campaign for 2028, Pritzker evidently decided not to utilize the all-American state fair as a venue for a campaign announcement.
Instead, his focus was on winning back Congress in 2026, encouraging Democrats to knock on doors, phone bank and get out the vote.
“We have a fight ahead of us and, folks, I got to ask you, are you ready for the fight?” Pritzker asked.
This article appears in Aug 7-13, 2025.
Ok but, tomorrow the MAGA hats will conquer. Why are we supporting such hate?