IPM’s 2026 Midterm Election candidate interviews
One-on-one in-depth conversations with congressional, gubernatorial, senate, and local government candidates from the 21st Show and IPM News ahead of the November mid-terms
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America @ 250: Diane Lathrop asks what went wrong, and how we keep it from happening again.
Mattoon resident Diane Lathrop was born and raised in east-central Illinois. She was valedictorian of the Mattoon Senior High School class of 1971. She attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and, in 2023, retired after more than 40 years in the financial services industry.
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GOP congressional candidate Jeff Wilson on tariffs, energy production, and healthcare
Jeff Wilson, a Republican and former member of the Champaign County Board, is making a bid to flip Illinois’ 13th congressional district. He makes his case on The 21st Show.
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Champaign County Clerk candidates disagree on Trump’s SAVE Act, decline to discuss federal charges
Champaign County’s incumbent clerk, Democrat Aaron Ammons, faces a challenge from Republican Alan Anderson. During a candidate forum hosted by IPM, the two discussed election administration and local challenges. They declined to comment on allegations against Ammons in a federal indictment.
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Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski discusses her record, makes case for third term
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski sat down with the 21st Show’s Brian Mackey to discuss her accomplishments so far and her position on many current issues while seeking another tern.
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America @ 250: Callie McFarland asks what America wants to be when it grows up
Callie McFarland has lived in Monticello since 2004. She’s a mother of two, a farmer’s wife and a small business owner. Since 2008, she’s been the director of community and economic development for the city of Monticello.
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Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey on SAFE-T Act, budget, and Illinois schools
Republican candidate for Illinois governor, Darren Bailey discussed why he decided on a second run for governor last week on the 21st Show.
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America @ 250: Allan Crandell discusses how we can again find meaning as Americans
Dr. Allan Crandall has provided psychotherapeutic and medical services to people throughout central Illinois and in Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Colorado.
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Pritzker, Bailey seek to convince farmers at forum they’re the best candidate for agriculture
Illinois farmers heard pitches from incumbent Gov. JB Pritzker and downstate Republican farmer Darren Bailey on Monday as each argued they’re best positioned to address agricultural issues.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker makes his case for a third term on The 21st Show
Governor JB Pritzker discussed issues with certain prisons in Illinois, public distrust of billionaires, and what he hopes to accomplish if given the opportunity to serve as governor for another term on the 21st Show.
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America @ 250: Da’Sani Lewis wonders what America should be in 50 years
Da’Sani Lewis is a 2026 graduate of Danville High School and will be attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this fall. Lewis wonders what kind of place America should be 50 years from now.
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‘I’m embarrassed by it’: Speaker Welch apologizes for interactions with former staffer
Welch defends office’s handling of Benton’s sexual harassment cases.
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GOP U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy talks abortion, ICE shootings, and Iran war on 21st Show
Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, Don Tracy joins the 21st Show again ahead of the general election in November.
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America @ 250: John Martin asks how the country can return to better times and heal from its wounds
John Martin is a lifelong Urbana resident and a retired software engineer. A self-described patriot and supporter of the Make America Great Again movement, Martin asks how the U.S. can heal from the previous presidential administration’s handling of immigration.
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Illinois Prisoner Review Board denies early release for Sean Grayson
The Illinois Prisoner Review Board voted unanimously Friday to deny former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson’s application for compassionate release. He is serving a 20-year sentence for second-degree murder for the 2024 killing of Sonya Massey.
