Recapping Illinois’ 13th Republican District Debate
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Recapping Illinois’ 13th Republican District Debate

URBANA – Last Thursday, four Republican candidates hoping to represent the newly drawn 13th Congressional district debated at the studios of Illinois Public Media. Three candidates are modeling their campaign after former President Trump, while one is choosing a more bipartisan track. Brian Mackey, host of the 21st talk show, started off the debate by…

Four Republicans face off in 13th Congressional district debate
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Four Republicans face off in 13th Congressional district debate

URBANA – Four Republican candidates hoping to represent the 13th Congressional district faced off on Thursday night. They echoed similar concerns about the Biden presidency and reflected on an unrecognizable America, a “Twilight Zone,” as Terry Martin, a former political journalist, remarked. Illinois Public Media sponsored the debate ahead of the June 28th primary. Jesse…

Rodney Davis talks agriculture and responds to repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion Act
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Rodney Davis talks agriculture and responds to repeal of Parental Notice of Abortion Act

CHAMPAIGN – Republican Congressman Rodney Davis made his first visit to the GROWMARK/FS facility outside Champaign on Wednesday. It’s the largest upright grain elevator in Illinois and stores millions of bushels of No. 2 Yellow Corn.  A senior member of the House Agriculture Committee and House Transportation Committee, Davis says he’s working to promote job…

GOP candidates for Illinois governor target Irvin in first full public debate
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GOP candidates for Illinois governor target Irvin in first full public debate

CHICAGO — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, the Republican with the most money and best polling position so far, served as a political pinata Thursday for his five GOP rivals for Illinois governor during their first public debate with him on the same televised stage. Topics during the hourlong WLS-TV/Illinois League of Women Voters/Univision debate ran…

Recapping Illinois’ 13th Democratic District Debate
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Recapping Illinois’ 13th Democratic District Debate

URBANA – Democratic candidates, Nikki Budzinski, a former aide to President Joe Biden and Governor J.B. Pritzker and David Palmer, a businessman and former basketball player, met last Thursday for an Illinois Public Media-sponsored debate. They largely agreed on the issues plaguing Americans but differed in a few key areas. Gun violence After the recent…

Few conflicts between Budzinski and Palmer during IPM debate
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Few conflicts between Budzinski and Palmer during IPM debate

URBANA – There were few disagreements in a debate between the Democratic newcomers hoping to represent the newly drawn 13th congressional district, which stretches from East St. Louis to Champaign. David Palmer, a former basketball player, and businessman, and Nikki Budzinski, a former aide to President Joe Biden and Governor J.B. Pritzker, debated on Thursday…

IL GOP lawmakers condemn Texas shooting; defend gun rights
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IL GOP lawmakers condemn Texas shooting; defend gun rights

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Republican lawmakers in Washington have condemned the mass shooting in Texas but they’re defending gun rights. US Representative Rodney Davis issued a statement calling Tuesday’s shooting “pure evil,” but says taking guns away from law-abiding citizens won’t stop the violence. He proposes strengthening school security, investing in resource officers, and gun safety…

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons expands access to early voting
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Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons expands access to early voting

URBANA — In 2018, when Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons took office, there were only 10 early voting locations in the county. This year, there will be 30.  “I’m trying to do everything I can to increase the participation from voters in a midterm election.” That’s why we’ve been pushing vote by mail so much,…

Illinois Public Media to host 13th Cong. Dist. primary debates
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Illinois Public Media to host 13th Cong. Dist. primary debates

URBANA – Both the Democratic and Republican candidates in the 13th Congressional District will take part in debates in the coming weeks. Illinois Public Media, WAND News, and The League of Women Voters of Champaign County are sponsoring the debates. Democratic newcomers Nikki Budzinski and David Palmer will debate live on Thursday, May 26 at…

A Black man, a white man and a white woman all look into their webcams during the debate.
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Three Democrats are running for Congress in the new, bluer 13th District. Here’s where they stand on gun violence, reparations, and immigration

CHAMPAIGN – The three Democratic contenders for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District faced off on Tuesday, revealing different approaches to gun violence, reparations for slavery, immigration and more. Tuesday marked the first public forum with the three candidates. The progressive Jewish organization Bend the Arc hosted the event online. Illinois Democrats redrew the Congressional districts last…