Why no Gubantorial Debates

2026/10/02 10 am original publication

Update 2026/10/02 10 pm

"Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 13, at 8:00 PM on WTTW, because it's showtime! Darren Bailey is ready to step up to the plate and swing for the fences against Governor JB Pritzker forum style."

We are glad here that there will be at one. I want both candidates to read this article.

The broadcast will be available where youcan get WTTW television and also through their web site https://www.wttw.com/ways-to-watch.

Original article starts here.

Why are there no debates for the Illinois gubernatorial race? After all, it is most important that the citizens of Illinois get the information they need to pick the right governor.

From search.brave.com we have:

There are no confirmed head-to-head televised debates between J.B. Pritzker and Darren Bailey for the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election because the Pritzker campaign has only accepted one invitation (a WTTW public television event) and declined others, while the Bailey campaign has not yet confirmed participation in that specific event, citing concerns about bias.

Invitation Status: WGN-TV, FOX Chicago, and WTTW invited both candidates. Bailey’s team confirmed participation in the WGN and FOX debates but views the WTTW event as a "forum" rather than a debate. Pritzker’s team declined the WGN and FOX invitations.

Cancelled Event: A September debate hosted by the League of Women Voters and WEEK-TV was cancelled after neither Pritzker nor Bailey confirmed attendance.

Broader Trend: This lack of debates is part of a wider 2026 trend where candidates are increasingly skipping broadcast podiums due to declining local TV viewership, a shift toward base turnout over persuading undecideds, and high campaign spending that reduces the need for debate exposure.

Is Bailey strong enough to force the issue or does the incompetent governor of Illinois get a pass? Do the Chicago Democrats get to keep destroying the once great state of Illinois? Does outstate Illinois continue to be serfs for the incompetent and greedy royal electorate from Chicago? Does Naperville even begin to fight the corruption of Chicago or have they joined this crap?

If we look at two very visible debates from the last four years we can see how debates can sway not only public opinion but also the workings of a political party.

There was the November 30, 2023 Newsom DeSantis debate. Moderator Sean Hannity felt the dialog was so good between Newsom and DeSantis that he asked if they would like to continue beyond the originally allotted time. Both debaters agreed to extend before the commercial break. Upon return only DeSantis was still on stage. It is reported that Newsom’s wife felt it was going bad and pulled her husband from the stage.

There was the June 27, 2024 debate between Donald Trump and then current president Joe Biden. This debate went so well for Biden that he was essentially fired by the Democratic party. He says he was resigning, but as more comes out it was a firing.

This is what the people of Illinois want from Daren Bailey. They want someone to go in and stand on stage to not only expose JB Pritzker, but to expose the lock control the Chicago Democratic party has on the running and money of the State of Illinois. First Madigan, then Pritzker.

If the State of Illinois is to truly survive, this may be the last chance.

And don’t expect the Pope to help out on this one, his energy is with the White Sox!