The decision by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin not to seek reelection has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity in Illinois politics. Sixteen men and women are seeking their party nomination to succeed him: 10 Democrats and six Republicans.
The 21st Show committed to offering a full-show interview to each of them, regardless of their experience, their standing in the polls, or their campaign fundraising. Here in alphabetical order are all the candidates who have joined the show, and the reasons for those who have not.
Early voting runs now through Primary Election Day, which is Tuesday, March 17, 2026. You can register to vote or find your polling place through the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Democratic candidates
- Steve Botsford
- Sean Brown
- Awisi Quartey Bustos
- Jonathan Dean
- Robin Kelly
- Raja Krishnamoorthi — canceled twice; has not offered new date.
- Bryan Maxwell
- Kevin Ryan
- Juliana Stratton
- Christopher Swann — canceled; has not offered new date.
Republican candidates
- R. Cary Capparelli
- Casey Chlebek
- Jeannie Evans
- Pamela Denise Long
- Jimmy Lee Tillman II — has not responded to multiple inquiries.
- Don Tracy
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Congresswoman Robin Kelly talks with the 21st Show about her bid for U.S. Senate
Kelly, who was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, shared her positions on immigration, healthcare, foreign conflicts and winning over younger voters.
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Vying for Senate seat, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton pitches herself on The 21st Show
Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton discusses foreign affairs, Medicaid, and tax breaks for middle class on the 21st show as she runs for the U.S. Senate.
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Republican Don Tracy talks with The 21st Show about his bid to flip Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat
Don Tracy, a former chair of the Illinois Republican Party, is running to succeed Senator Dick Durbin. Tracy shared his perspective on immigration enforcement, foreign conflicts and casting a big tent for conservatives.
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Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate seat Kevin Ryan talks economy, military background, ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza on 21st Show
Kevin Ryan is a former teacher and United States marine, who is vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. He shares his views on the affordability crisis Americans are facing, border control, and his experience serving in Afghanistan.
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Republican Senate candidate Pamela Denise Long talks Greenland, ICE and abortion
Illinois Public Media’s The 21st Show is interviewing the candidates and asking them about their views. This week, Brian Mackey sat down with Republican Pamela Denise Long to discuss her campaign.
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Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Bryan Maxwell talks representing downstate Illinois, advocating socialist policies on campaign trail
Bryan Maxwell is an environmental research scientist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign- making him one of the few candidates in the race not to be based in Chicago.
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Awisi Bustos on her government experience, ‘militarization’ of ICE and AI policy
Illinois Public Media’s The 21st Show is interviewing the candidates and asking them about their views. This week, Brian Mackey sat down with Awisi Quartey Bustos, a Democrat with experience in nonprofits, the private sector and as a state of Illinois employee.
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GOP U.S. Senate candidate Casey Chlebek, Polish immigrant, talks immigration reform, taxes, ‘cultural Marxism’
A Polish immigrant to the U.S., GOP U.S. Senate candidate Casey Chlebek discusses his views on immigration and ICE with the 21st show.
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Republican U.S. Senate Candidate R. Cary Capparelli on Trump, ICE, and persistence in Illinois politics
Seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate race, R. Cary Capparelli shared his views on immigration, Illinois farmers, and the outsourcing of jobs.
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Democratic Senate candidate Sean Brown on immigration, universal healthcare, and money in politics
Sean Brown, a lawyer hailing from Chicago’s south Side is running in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. He discusses his career, universal healthcare, and immigration policy on the 21st show.
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GOP Senate candidate Jeannie Evans talks Christian values, antitrust laws, and AI
Antitrust enforcement lawyer Jeannie Evans is vying for the GOP nomination in the U.S. Senate race. She discusses AI and jobs, her views on immigration, and companies engaging in price fixing on the 21st Show.
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Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jonathan Dean discusses childhood trauma, solar energy, and raising minimum wage
Chicago-based lawyer and solar energy entrepreneur Jonathan Dean is a democrat running for the U.S. Senate. He shares his thoughts on policies involving raising the minimum wage, solar energy, and immigration on the 21st show.
