Candidate Forum: Meet the Republicans running in IL-13 congressional race

The primary election is less than three weeks away, and early voting is already happening across Illinois. Today we’re zooming in on the race for the 13th Congressional district. The two-term incumbent is Nikki Budzinski. She’s facing a challenge in the Democratic primary from Dylan Blaha. Illinois Public Media in collaboration with the League of Women Voters and the Champaign County NAACP is holding candidate forums for both parties. Blaha has been game, but Budzinski has so far not made herself available.

There are also two Republican candidates, who did meet for a forum earlier this month, and that is the subject of today's show. Army veteran and West Point graduate Joshua Loyd is back after losing to Budzinski in the last election. The other candidate is Jeff Wilson, a member of the Champaign County Board and also a navy veteran. 

They discussed many issues surrounding domestic policy including the economy, healthcare, ICE agents, and a potential national ban on abortion. 

GUESTS

Jeff Wilson
Candidate for U.S. House of Representative IL-13, Republican Primary 2026

Joshua Loyd
Candidate for U.S. House of Representative IL-13, Republican Primary 2026