>> The midterm general election is 3 weeks from today.

And second on your ballot will be the race for governor of Illinois.

It's a rematch between Democrat and sitting Governor JB Pritzker and Republican former state Senator Darren Bailey.

Tonight will have them both in our studios for a candidate forum at 8 o'clock.

Our brand is Friedman will be moderating and she joins us now with more Brandis a big night ahead.

It is Nick.

It especially since ours is the only forum that these 2 candidates will be having in this election.

They've agreed to no other debate.

So this is really an opportunity for viewers voters to hear from both candidates and compare how they stack up on the issues.

>> So let's start with Republican Darren Bailey.

He won his party's nomination for the second time and he's running against strong headwinds.

No Republican has won a statewide office in Illinois since former Governor Bruce Rauner was elected in 2014.

Bailey is a farmer from Xenia and a former state lawmaker having served in both chambers of the General Assembly back during the 2022 campaign.

He was closely aligned with Vin former President Donald Trump.

We also got himself into some hot water with Chicagoans after calling the city, quote, a hellhole.

But since winning this primary, he's been more careful about how he about how closely he's associated with President Trump and he's walking back those comments on Chicago during Bailey's appearance on this program in March.

After that primary, he said he's demonstrating that he's made changes.

>> I will admit I haven't always had that open door.

I've been pretty close minded in the past.

asked earlier something else that's different.

I plan listening a lot more than talking.

But having that door open, bring in independents having that door open for Democrats who think that their party has left or them and making that convincing argument that to I'll hold true to my word.

I will make Illinois more affordable and all make help work with the leaders in Chicago to make it to a great city that I believe it should be.

>> Bailey did receive the president's endorsement, though he says he has not asked for it.

His running mate, Nick is Cook County Republican Party Chair Erin Delmore.

>> And of course Brandis Governor Pritzker here is hoping to achieve something that almost no Illinois governor has done before.

Right.

And that is he's seeking a 3rd term.

In fact, no Democrat Nick has completed 2 full terms in the governor's office.

Let alone sought a 3rd one Pritzker came to the governor's office back in 2018, a billionaire error and entrepreneur who never held elected office before.

Since then, he has led the state through the COVID-19 pandemic, the migrant crisis and he's become a very loud critic of President Trump.

More recently, he's also been spending some time boosting his national profile traveling and seeding a political action committee to help Democrats win the House in districts that Trump won in 2024.

Pritzker says he's running for a 3rd term because he believes his work isn't finished.

>> Balancing the budget and getting credit upgrades is a big deal for the state.

We're saving money for taxpayers.

We're being more responsible paying down debt for the state.

And if those things sound boring, too.

Well, just remember the hundreds of millions of dollars each year that we're saving as a result of being more fiscally responsible is inuring to the benefit of taxpayers were able to do more for them or provide them tax cuts like I have the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit.

The cut in the in fact, the elimination of the grocery tax in the state.

>> And that is, of course, from an interview that he did with Nick Bromberg shortly after the primary this time Pritzker's running mate, though, is one of his former deputy governors, Christian Mitchell, also from Chicago.

Of course, his current Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is running for U.S.

Senate.

That is right.

All right.

Brand is for folks who aren't paying attention or for mind them when and where they can.

Watch tonight's forum.

Glad you asked.

will be right here in our Chicago tonight Studios that is at 08:00PM.

It will also stream live, of course, on W T Tw dot com, Facebook YouTube.

And if folks miss it tonight, it will be available on our website.

It's also streaming and other parts of the state and it'll be