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WATCH LIVE: Illinois U.S. Senate candidates face off in forum to replace Durbin

By · Via PBS NewsHour · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Stratton and Tracy will participate in a forum to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, with early voting for the election between Stratton and Tracy, who is the state's former Republican Party chair, and other races, including Gov. JB Pritzker's bid for a third term. Durbin announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat he has held for nearly three decades. The Cook Political Report rates the U.S. Senate race in Illinois as Solid Democratic. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now.

Key points

  • The forum is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.: The forum is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday.
  • Early voting is underway for the election between Stratton and Tracy.: Early voting is underway for the election between Stratton and Tracy.
  • Durbin announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat he has h…: Durbin announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat he has held for nearly three decades.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

By — Steff Staples Steff Staples Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-illinois-u-s-senate-candidates-face-off-in-forum-to-replace-durbin Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Illinois U.S. Senate candidates face off in forum to replace Durbin Politics Oct 20, 2026 5:37 PM EDT In Illinois, Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy will participate in a forum on Tuesday as they bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The forum begins at 9 p.m. EDT. Watch live from WTTW in the video player above. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat he has held for nearly three decades. The forum comes as early voting is underway for the election between Stratton and Tracy, the state's former Republican Party chair, and other races, including Gov. JB Pritzker's bid for a third term. WATCH: WTTW News gubernatorial forum between Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey The Cook Political Report rates the U.S. Senate race in Illinois as Solid Democratic. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Steff Staples Steff Staples

In Illinois, Democratic Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Republican Don Tracy will participate in a forum on Tuesday as they bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The forum begins at 9 p.m. EDT. Watch live from WTTW in the video player above. Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection, opening up the seat he has held for nearly three decades. The forum comes as early voting is underway for the election between Stratton and Tracy, the state's former Republican Party chair, and other races, including Gov. JB Pritzker's bid for a third term. WATCH: WTTW News gubernatorial forum between Pritzker and Republican challenger Darren Bailey The Cook Political Report rates the U.S. Senate race in Illinois as Solid Democratic. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now

Original source: www.pbs.org

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