URBANA – On Thursday night, two political newcomers prepared to debate and tell the voters why they should represent the newly drawn 13th congressional district.
The Democratic candidate is Nikki Budzinski. She is a former aide in both the administrations of Governor JB Pritzker and President Joe Biden.
Republican Regan Deering is a former educator and business leader.
The Democratically controlled Illinois legislature drew the boundaries of the 13th congressional district in 2021. It irregularly shaped district starts on the west side of Illinois in East St. Louis. It snakes northeast to Springfield, then Decatur, and ends in Champaign-Urbana.
The debate took place in the studios of Illinois Public Media in Urbana. WAND-TV in Decatur is a co-sponsor and the League of Women Voters of Champaign County timed the debate. The moderator is Tinisha Spain of Illinois Public Media. Journalists Brian Mackey, host of The 21st show; Mark Maxwell, political editor of KSDK-TV in St. Louis; and Doug Wolfe, political reporter at WAND-TV in Decatur asked questions of the candidates.
Watch the debate here:
