Illinois Public Media co-hosts debate for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District
Illinois Public Media, WCIA-TV Channel 3, and the League of Women Voters of Champaign County will host an Illinois 13th Congressional District debate between Republican incumbent Rodney Davis and Democrat challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan on Monday, October 5 in the WCIA studios, located in Champaign, Illinois.
"We're pleased to join forces with WCIA-TV and the local League of Women Voters to hold an important conversation with the people of Central Illinois prior to the November Election," said Reginald Hardwick, news and public affairs director for Illinois Public Media.
Moderated by Brian Mackey, host of The 21st, the debate will feature questions from a panel of local journalists—Mary Hansen (WUIS-NPR Illinois), Chris Coates (The Pantagraph, Herald & Review, and Journal Gazette/Times-Courier in Mattoon), and Mark Maxwell (WCIA)—as well as constituents of Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. Together, these questions will give people a chance to hear these two candidates discuss the issues affecting those throughout the district, which stretches from Champaign-Urbana west to the Mississippi River and to the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis.
Constituents of Illinois’ 13th Congressional District are welcome to submit their questions for the debate at illinoisnewsroom.org/election 2020. The final list of questions will be chosen by the debate’s editorial board.
“WCIA appreciates the candidates’ participation in this public debate and we are proud to work with Illinois Public Media and the League of Women Voters of Champaign County as a resource for Central Illinois with this partnership,” said Richard Flesch, news director for WCIA-TV Channel 3. “The importance of knowing where candidates stand on current issues and hearing this directly from them cannot be overstated. To be a part of bringing this to our viewers and the constituents of the Illinois 13th Congressional District is an honor.”
The debate will begin at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 5 and will be broadcast live from the WCIA studios and simulcast on WILL-TV, WILL-AM 580, and WILL-FM 90.9. It will also be available for streaming at wcia.com, will.illinois.edu and illinoisnewsroom.org. The public is welcome to interact with the debate in real-time via Facebook Live—available on both the WILL and WCIA Facebook pages—and are also encouraged to share their thoughts by using #ILVotes2020. People can join the Facebook Live Event here.
Special thanks to debate partners Illinois Newsroom—which is powered by Illinois Public Media—NPR Illinois, and The Pantagraph.