Democrats Make Closing Arguments In Illinois Governor Debates

CHICAGO — The Democratic candidates for Illinois governor held a pair debates last week you might have missed. With early voting starting this week in much of the state, there is only one more televised debate before the March 20 primary.

First, the six candidates appeared at forum hosted by WBEZ-FM, the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and Politico on Thursday. The event was broadcast live on the radio and streamed online.

The next day, the candidates shared the stage again in Chicago at a televised debate hosted by ABC7, Univision and the League of Women Voters. The event was shown late Friday night on tape delay.

You can watch both complete events below.

Highlights from the WBEZ forum included each candidate being asked "Price is Right"-style questions about the cost of household goods and the front-runner being accused of using "the language of racists."

The biggest eyebrow-raisers from Friday night's WLS event were Chris Kennedy's assertion he would not want his college-aged daughters interning in Springfield and Robert Marshall's candid admission that he really doesn't "know that many" Latinos.

A poll of registered voters released ahead of last week's debates showed J.B. Pritzker with 31 percent, Sen. Daniel Biss with 21 percent, Chris Kennedy with 17 percent and 25 percent.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has declined to engage in a televised debate with his primary opponent, Wheaton state Rep. Jeanne Ives, although the two did appear in the same room during a heated Chicago Tribune editorial board meeting.

The Democrats will hold a final televised debate March 14 on WTTW.

WBEZ Illinois Democratic Gubernatorial Debate, March 1, 2018:

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ABC7 Illinois Democratic Gubernatorial Debate, March 2, 2018:

» More from WLS-TV