Illinois Gov. Pritzker: We'll Take The First Primary

Iowa Caucus 2020
Photo credit (Photo by Steve Pope/Getty Images)

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Iowa has become the focus of a lot of Democratic Party ire, with its handling, or mishandling, of the caucus. Now, there is renewed talk of moving the first-in-the-nation contest to another state, like Illinois.

As Democrats began the long, long night of waiting for Iowa caucus results, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker tweeted:

"If you’re looking for a state whose people represent the diversity of America, look no further than Illinois.  It’s time for the most representative state in the country to be the first in the nation."

If you’re looking for a state whose people represent the diversity of America, look no further than Illinois. It’s time for the most representative state in the country to be the first in the nation. https://t.co/2BeB4MQIcD

— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) February 4, 2020

The director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, John Shaw, says Illinois does indeed have a plausible claim.

"It's a very large state, has lots of diversity," he said, ethnically and regionally.

To take away Iowa's crown, the national political party leadership would have to agree.

"I'm sure there would be people from Ohio and Florida and Pennsylvania and Michigan and other states who'd say, 'Yeah, we'd be great.'"

The political website 538 compiled data suggesting Illinois is the state that best reflects the Democratic party.