Illinois Republicans Push to Impeach Gov. JB Pritzker

Miller, Niemerg, and the Freedom Caucus Request Articles of Impeachment, Signaling the GOP in Illinois Is Finally Ready to Fight

By Staff Writer
September 12, 2025

The Silence Breaks

The corridors of the Illinois Statehouse were quiet when it happened. No cameras, no fiery speeches — just a request that could reshape the state’s political conversation.

This week, Reps. Chris Miller and Adam Niemerg, backed by the Illinois Freedom Caucus, formally called on the Illinois House to consider articles of impeachment against Gov. JB Pritzker.

The charge was not corruption or bribery but something they argue is just as corrosive: rhetoric that, in their view, has crossed into incitement and placed citizens in danger.

“Governor JB Pritzker has engaged in conduct which, under the totality of the circumstances, constitutes inciting violence which is incompatible with the duties of his office. His dangerous rhetoric cannot be ignored, which is why I am requesting articles of impeachment be brought against him.” — Rep. Chris Miller

Miller later expanded on his concerns, pointing to what he described as threats of intimidation from the governor.

“Along with other colleagues I requested articles of impeachment to be filed against JB Pritzker for inciting violence against citizens of the state of Illinois. Making specific threats of intimidation on members of the House, and using dangerous rhetoric. He’s watching and taking names. I’ll keep you informed!” — Rep. Chris Miller

Though Democrats hold the votes to block impeachment, Miller’s request signaled something Illinois Republicans had not shown in years: a willingness to fight.

The Words That Sparked a Revolt

Pritzker’s critics argue his rhetoric has repeatedly stirred unrest, sending the wrong signals at critical moments.

When President Trump proposed sending the National Guard to Chicago to address violent crime, Pritzker urged Illinoisans to resist federal intervention. To opponents, it sounded like a call to confront law enforcement rather than work with it.

“When a sitting governor urges citizens to resist law enforcement, it crosses a line. It doesn’t just politicize crime—it risks escalating it.”

In September, following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk — an Illinois native — Pritzker placed blame on Donald Trump instead of calling for calm. For many, it was a moment where grief was overshadowed by partisanship.

“Instead of being a leader and leading the citizens of Illinois, he made it political—as if Kirk’s assassination was just another partisan talking point.”

And in April, speaking before Democrats in New Hampshire, Pritzker delivered one of his most searing lines:

“These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.” — Gov. JB Pritzker

He doubled down, urging his party to “fight their cruelty with every megaphone” and to punish Republicans at the ballot box. To critics, it was yet another example of a governor whose words inflame rather than unite.

A Coordinated Challenge

Rep. Adam Niemerg quickly joined Miller in pressing for impeachment proceedings.

“Governor Pritzker has abandoned his duty to serve the people of Illinois in favor of political theater and reckless rhetoric that puts our citizens at risk. This is not leadership — it’s dangerous. That is why I am supporting the request for articles of impeachment.” — Rep. Adam Niemerg

Earlier this year, Niemerg faulted Pritzker’s State of the State address for focusing more on Donald Trump than on Illinois’ crises:

“Not once did the Governor mention property tax relief. Not once did he mention pension reform. Not once did he mention the public safety concerns in Chicagoland … He did however mention Donald Trump at least six times.”

The Illinois Freedom Caucus, formed in 2021 to give voice to conservatives who believed the GOP had grown too timid, echoed their call:

“The Illinois Freedom Caucus is exploring the drafting of Articles of Impeachment against Governor JB Pritzker. His vile rhetoric has incited violence and called for American citizens to ‘not know a moment of peace.’ He must be held accountable.”

What began as a statement from one lawmaker is now a coordinated challenge. To disillusioned Republicans, it signals their party may finally be willing to fight.

Illinois’ Troubled History

Impeachment is not new to Illinois. Four of the state’s last ten governors have gone to prison, and in 2009 lawmakers impeached and removed Gov. Rod Blagojevich for attempting to sell a U.S. Senate seat.

But this effort is different. Where Blagojevich was undone by corruption, Republicans now say Pritzker has eroded trust through rhetoric — a subtler charge, but one they argue is no less dangerous.

Sidebar: How Impeachment Works in Illinois

Step 1 – Request
Any member of the House may call for articles of impeachment to be drafted.

Step 2 – House Vote
A simple majority (60 of 118) is required to adopt them.

Step 3 – Senate Trial
If adopted, the Senate conducts a trial, with senators serving as jurors.

Step 4 – Conviction
Removal requires a two-thirds Senate vote (40 of 59). Conviction also bars the official from holding state office again.

Only once has this process succeeded — in 2009, when lawmakers unanimously removed Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Long Odds, Loud Message

With Democrats holding supermajorities, conviction is virtually impossible. But Miller and Niemerg argue that silence is no longer acceptable.

“Impeachment in Illinois is extremely rare and practically impossible when one party dominates both chambers. But filing articles has symbolic weight. It signals to voters that Republicans are drawing a line and reasserting themselves in the debate.” — Daniel Bliss, Political Science Professor

Grassroots Reaction

That message is resonating with voters who have long felt ignored.

Mary Thompson, a small business owner in Effingham, said:

“For years it’s felt like Republicans just roll over while Pritzker does whatever he wants. I don’t care if impeachment succeeds — I care that they’re finally fighting.”

John Davis, a retired police officer from suburban Cook County, agreed:

“When the governor tells people to stand in the way of law enforcement, that’s not leadership. That’s putting lives at risk. I’m glad somebody is holding him accountable.”

For many, the request for impeachment is less about the outcome than the act itself. It is about restoring a sense of dignity to the fight.

A Call to Mobilize

Attorney Thomas DeVore, who became a household name challenging Pritzker’s COVID-19 mandates, tied the impeachment push to a broader call for action. In a blistering post, he invoked both the sacrifice of Charlie Kirk and the potential power of Republican voters:

“Before going to bed tonight just know this. If the 2.45 million Illinois Republican voters decide to show up in November 2026 just as they showed up in 2024, then Illinois will be a Republican state.
Charlie Kirk gave his life defending this country and what he believed. Many of you don’t know that Charlie was from Illinois. It is not too much to ask the rest of you to get up and go vote and make sure every damn person you know does the same. Call them. Brow beat them. Drag their asses there. If they vote, we win and the piece of garbage, happy warrior Pritzker, that race-baiting and hate-promoting punk, can be sent packing.” — Thomas DeVore

In another statement, he praised Miller, Niemerg, and their allies for taking a stand:

“I fully support the initiative of the Illinois Freedom Caucus to draft and petition the Illinois General Assembly to impeach Pritzker! This man’s vile actions have been far more damaging to our state than anything Blagojevich did.” — Thomas DeVore

For DeVore and others, impeachment is not the end. It is the beginning of a broader movement to awaken a dormant base.

National Stakes

Pritzker is more than Illinois’ governor. His name circulates in Democratic circles as a potential presidential contender. His words in New Hampshire were not just a local rallying cry — they were a test of national ambition.

By pressing for impeachment, Republicans have ensured that those words will follow him. If Democrats see him as a rising star, Republicans in his own state are determined to brand him as a liability.

Elsewhere, Freedom Caucus movements in states like Texas and Florida have reshaped their parties, energizing turnout and forcing leaders to take harder lines. Illinois conservatives believe they can do the same — and in Pritzker, they see both an opponent and a symbol.

What Comes Next

The request for impeachment is almost certain to stall in the legislature. But the act itself has already broken years of Republican silence.

For decades, Illinois conservatives have watched their leaders retreat while Democrats consolidated power. Now, Miller, Niemerg, and the Freedom Caucus have shown a different face — one of confrontation rather than concession.

What comes next will depend on whether Republicans can build on that spark: uniting their fractured party, presenting policy alternatives on crime and taxes, and mobilizing the voters DeVore insists hold the key to the state’s future.

The request may never remove Pritzker from office. But it has already succeeded in something else: reminding Republicans that silence is a choice, and that choice can be broken.

And in politics, sometimes a voice is louder than a verdict.