WGLT, Illinois State University’s NPR station, is teaming up with various community partners to host four candidate forums and debates this month to inform voters ahead of the November 6 election.
Civic engagement is a core value at Illinois State University. GLT is supporting that value through its series of events featuring local, state, and congressional candidates from central Illinois.
Each event is free and open to the public. If you can’t attend, you can listen live on GLT’s Sound Ideas on 89.1 FM, stream WGLT.org, or watch via Facebook Live on GLT’s Facebook page.
Tickets are required for October 29 only. All events begin at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
- Thursday, October 4 – McLean County Clerk, featuring incumbent Republican Kathy Michael and Democratic challenger Nikita Richards. Location: Community Commons Building (CCB) at Heartland Community College, room 1406-1407. See map and parking.
- Wednesday, October 10 – Illinois 105th House District, featuring state Rep. Dan Brady, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger Ben Webb. Location: University Galleries at Illinois State University in Uptown Normal.
- Wednesday, October 17 – Illinois 88th House District, featuring state Rep. Keith Sommer, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger Jill Blair. Location: Alumni Center at ISU.
- Monday, October 29 – 13th Congressional District, featuring U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, the Republican incumbent, and Democratic challenger Betsy Dirksen Londrigan. Location: Normal Theater. Tickets are required for attendees. They are free and available online.
Each event is co-sponsored by GLT and the McLean County League of Women Voters. The October 29 debate between Davis and Londrigan is also co-sponsored by Illinois State University and its American Democracy Project, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Heartland Community College, along with media partners The Pantagraph and WJBC.
Voters can submit questions for consideration online. Deadline is the day before the event.
WGLT public radio is an NPR member station licensed to Illinois State and has been a part of the School of Communication since 1997. The station has been honored with scores of regional and national awards for excellence by The Associated Press, Kaleidoscope, Public Radio News Directors, Inc. and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Over the decades, support from ISU and the community has allowed GLT to become a full-service public radio station, serving a central Illinois audience approaching 30,000 listeners a week at 89.1 FM, as well as a growing digital presence with users all over the world via WGLT.org, social media channels, and NPR One app.
