LISTEN: Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Forum

On behalf of partners POLITICO, the University of Chicago’s non-partisan Institute of Politics, and WBEZ Chicago, WBEZ presented a live public forum Thursday evening featuring the 2018 Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidates discussing their respective visions for the future of our state.

Candidates J.B. Pritzker, Chris Kennedy, State Sen. Daniel Biss, Bob Daiber, Tio Hardiman and Dr. Robert Marshall participated.

The forum was moderated by WBEZ Chicago’s Melba Lara with a panel of three reporters: WBEZ’s Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold, and POLITICO's Natasha Korecki.

One area where the candidates disagreed was on the political future of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

The candidates were asked if Madigan should resign during a forum hosted by WBEZ, Politico and the Institute of Politics.

This week – Madigan said he wouldn’t step down after he released nine complaints his office received from employees over the past five years about sexual harassment or intimidation.

But State Senator Daniel Biss and Chris Kennedy say Madigan should resign as Democratic Party Chairman for how he handled some complaints.

Here’s Kennedy:

"I believe in the best interest of the Democratic Party that he needs to step away and show that we are about good government," he said.

JB Pritzker wouldn’t go that far — he, Bob Daiber and Tio Hardiman want to wait for the results of an independent investigation.