Chicago voters who want a closer look at the Republicans vying for a U.S. Senate seat are getting a prime-time-style preview. ABC7 Chicago, the League of Women Voters of Illinois and Univision are teaming up for a live, 60-minute Republican U.S. Senate primary forum next Wednesday at 7 p.m., featuring GOP candidates Casey Chlebek, Jeannie Evans and former Illinois GOP chair Don Tracy. ABC7 anchor Judy Hsu will moderate the conversation.
How to watch
The forum will stream live on ABC7Chicago.com, the station’s news app, its Facebook page and on ABC7’s 24/7 streaming channels, according to ABC7 Chicago. For TV viewers who prefer a later start, ABC7 will air the full program on its broadcast channel Friday at 10:30 p.m., immediately after the late newscast. Univision will offer a Spanish-language translation online ahead of a broadcast of the forum on its main channel at 4 p.m. Saturday, giving bilingual and Spanish-speaking viewers another way to tune in.
Who'll be on stage
Hsu will steer the discussion while questions come from ABC7 political reporter Craig Wall and WGBO/Univision anchor Enrique Rodriguez, the League of Women Voters of Illinois says. On stage will be Republican hopefuls Casey Chlebek, Jeannie Evans and Don Tracy, the former state GOP chair. The League, which is co-presenting the event, stresses that it is nonpartisan, that each candidate gets equal time, and that voters looking for deeper homework can head to VOTE411 for candidate information and polling details.
Why it matters
The forum lands as campaigns sprint toward the March primary, with Illinois voters set to cast ballots on March 17, according to Capitol News Illinois. For Republicans trying to break through in a big and diverse state, a televised and translated forum like this becomes one more way to reach voters who cannot make it to in-person events but still want to size up the field before heading to the polls.
