© 2024 WNIJ and WNIU
Northern Public Radio
801 N 1st St.
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-753-9000
Northern Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The 2018 race for Illinois governor could be the most expensive in U.S. history. With nine months until election day, the five leading candidates have raised more than $136 million, already exceeding any other contest before in Illinois. Democrat J.B. Pritzker has spent over $34 million of his $49 million campaign chest in an attempt to win the Democratic nomination. And a once sleepy Republican race has seen shifting alliances in recent weeks, after billionaire Dick Uihlein gave $2.5 million to Gov. Bruce Rauner's challenger, Illinois House Rep. Jeanne Ives, who opposes abortion and rights for gay and transgender people.To track this money circus, ProPublica Illinois has created a graphic that will update with the latest fundraising information.

LGBTQ Rights Group To Hold Forum For Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates

Democrats hoping to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner will attend a forum tonight in Chicago at a church on Michigan Avenue.

Anthony Galloway is the director of civic engagement for Equality Illinois. He says it's important to hear what the candidates have already done to help promote LGBTQ rights. 

"So our goal in this activity is to educate our constituents," Galloway said, "as well as educate the candidates on issues of impact within the LGBTQ community."

Galloway says this is the first forum of its kind for a gubernatorial race that he's aware of. So far, businessmen J.B. Pritzker and Chris Kennedy, State Sen. Daniel Biss, anti-violence activist Tio Hardiman and school official Bob Daiber have committed to attend. The event takes place at Second Presbyterian Church and will be live-streamed so viewers across Illinois can watch and participate.

Galloway hopes to later have a forum between the Republican and Democratic nominees for Governor.  

 

Rachel's reports currently focus on education and equity. She's also reported extensively on arts, community & diverse culture.