Recapping the only debate in the Illinois governor’s race

Produced by Christine Hatfield
 
Both Pritzker and Bailey are wearing dark blue suits with white dress shirts and neckties (Pritzker's is light blue, Bailey's is burgundy). Pritzker is holding a pen and making a point. Bailey, wearing clear-frame classes, is talking back.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Darren Bailey met in a live forum at the studios of Chicago PBS station WTTW-TV on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. It's their only scheduled debate of the campaign. Screen capture from WTTW-TV

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This week in Chicago the two major-party candidates for Illinois governor faced off in their only debate: Democratic incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and his second-time Republican challenger Darren Bailey. We’ll talk about what happened with Illinois Public Radio’s Mawa Iqbal.

Guest

Mawa Iqbal
Statehouse reporter, Illinois Public Radio