Former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich urged people to vote for Republicans in the midterm elections, saying the Democratic Party has been “hijacked” by socialists.
“It’s not the Democratic Party anymore,” Blagojevich said, according to the New York Post.
“It’s a socialist party,” the former governor said.
Blagojevich made the comments on the “Cats Roundtable” radio program, referring to himself now as a “Trump-O-Crat.”
The former governor, who received a full, unconditional pardon from President Trump, was convicted in 2011 on multiple counts of public corruption, which included attempting to sell Barack Obama’s vacant U.S. Senate seat.
On the program, Blagojevich discussed his new book, “Framed, F*cked, and Freed: A Governor’s Odyssey.”
Ex-con former Dem Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich urges America to vote Republican: 'Democratic Party has been hijacked by socialists' https://t.co/YPLl6P2FR1 pic.twitter.com/LBJ6p5nxX6
— New York Post (@nypost) October 25, 2026
More from the New York Post:
President Trump commuted Blagojevich’s 14-year prison sentence for political corruption in 2020.
Blago, as he’s known in political circles, blamed Obama, who he said is on the “socialist side”, for his misfortune.
The ex-governor said it was an emissary of Obama’s who approached him about who should fill his outgoing senator’s seat.
“None of it would have happened if [Obama] didn’t send someone to meet [me] to make a political deal, which was criminalized in my case,” Blagojevich said. “Obama should have stood up for the rule of law – not so much for me – but for the rule of law and the Constitution. But he didn’t.
“He made a very cynical, political deal to protect himself. He spent eight years in the White House. I spent eight years in the big house. I laugh about it now, but you’d have to say … that Obama had a better eight years than me.
“None of it would’ve happened had Obama not approached me to make the political deal that was criminalized against me – which wasn’t a crime.”
Obama has insisted he never discussed any pay-to-play with Blago regarding the Illinois Senate seat he vacated for the presidency.
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“The Democratic Party has been hijacked by socialists and communists who hate America. If you want Mamdamis all across America, then stay home and allow the Democrats to win the midterm elections,” Blagojevich said.
“But if you want to make our country great again, and protect it from people who would destroy our country, then get out there and vote” he added.
Calling him a ‘very fine person,’ Trump said Blagojevich’s prison sentence should never have happened.
BREAKING: President Trump Issues Full and Unconditional Pardon for Rod Blagojevich
The former governor also addressed the growing movement among some Illinois counties to secede from the state.
Blagojevich said he doubts the movement would be successful.
"For the six years that I was governor of Illinois, nobody was talking about seceding from Illinois when I was governor," Blagojevich said, according to Newsmax.
"This is a product of Gov. Pritzker and his mismanagement," he added.
Newsmax shared further:
The group Illinois Separation is leading an effort to establish a new state without Cook County. Thirty-three of Illinois' 102 counties have approved nonbinding separation measures, with 11 more scheduled to consider similar advisory referendums on Nov. 3.
If all 11 approve the measures, 44 counties would have expressed support for separation, although the votes would not legally divide the state.
ADVERTISEMENTBlagojevich said residents outside Chicago feel their interests are being ignored by state leaders who depend heavily on votes from the Chicago metropolitan area.
"And so the people in those other counties understandably don't feel like they're getting represented," he said. "It's taxation without representation, as far as they're concerned."
Blagojevich cited high taxes, crime, and the departures of major companies, including Citadel and Caterpillar, as reasons for dissatisfaction with Illinois' leadership. He also criticized state spending on migrants and policies eliminating cash bail.
"The problem with Chicago isn't Chicago or the people in it. It's the leaders," he said.
Blagojevich accused Pritzker of disregarding downstate Illinois because of his political support in the Chicago area.
