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The predecessor to J.B. Pritzker as the governor of Illinois was Bruce Rauner. Rauner, a Republican, served as the 42nd governor of the state from 2015 until 2019. Prior to his political career, Rauner was a successful businessman and investor, co-founding the private equity firm GTCR. Throughout his tenure as governor, Rauner focused on issues such as job creation, education reform, and fiscal responsibility.