J. B. PRITZKER

Early childhood education is an urgent educational, economic and moral imperative. Without it, we face a long-term national economic security crisis.

I'm involved in issues, and issues are about grass-roots politics.

Early education is the type of issue politicians nod their heads at, and then when it comes time to make a tough decision, a financial trade-off, inevitably it's about the first item tossed from the table.

In my day job, I worry non-stop about making wise investments for long-term gains.

I focus on supporting high quality early childhood health care and education. By betting my resources on very young children, I know I'm making an investment that pays guaranteed dividends with a high rate of return.

When candidates have asked me for support before, they have asked for more than a check.

Head Start has been a key component of health, nutrition and early learning opportunities since the 1960s.

By definition, startups are not constrained by the limits of established company culture. And so they push boundaries and develop new technologies and ways of doing things.

Any business owner can tell you that if their company isn't performing profitably and up to standards, one of two things will happen: either you make changes to improve its efficiency, or a competitor will drive you out of business. Market forces have a way of cutting to the chase rather quickly.

None of our family businesses were focused on technology. It was '93 when I came out of law school, and the Internet was taking hold. So I started New World Ventures.

Whatever you build, you're building for the family - not with an eye toward getting away, but with an eye toward adding to the family pie.

I think much of what you learn as a kid comes before age seven.

I was always fascinated by politics, and I was exposed to it quite a lot.

My wife and I were both very engaged in trying to defeat Trump. We knocked on doors in three states.

Women should not be forced to accept sexual harassment as the price of admission to a life and career in the political world. They should not have to endure unwanted touching, innuendo, and propositioning from men in positions of power.

I grew up watching my mom and dad selling rooms in our motels. We had CEOs coming to our house so that my dad could persuade them to have their executives stay in Hyatt hotels.

You know why I'm running for governor? Because everything we care about is under siege from President Donald Trump and Bruce Rauner.

I'm a progressive.

There are many successful startup funders who are looking for ways to make a difference in the world.

We all know Illinois has big challenges. And under Gov. Rauner, things have only gotten worse.

The key to America's economic future is educating kids as early in their lives as we can.

If you're governor of a state, and you have nothing to say when the president attacks the people that you represent, you are complicit.

When you're someone who cares about making a difference in the world, and you have resources to do that, you have literally hundreds of choices you could make about how to do that.

I've been honored to take part in protests and events across Illinois, joining with thousands of you in the resistance, making calls, sending letters, and making sure Washington understands that we will not allow the ACA to be repealed.

I'm an independent thinker and independent leader. I have been my whole life.