First televised Chicago mayoral debate to air next week

A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune
·1 min read
5

Chicago voters will get to see all nine mayoral candidates square off in their first live televised debate Jan. 19 on ABC7.

The 90-minute, commercial-free debate will be led by ABC7 Chicago anchor Judy Hsu, with questions also coming from ABC7 political reporter Craig Wall and Univision Chicago anchor Enrique Rodriguez. The debate is being held in partnership with the Leagues of Women Voters for Chicago and Illinois and Univision.

According to a release, the debate will stream live on abc7chicago.com, the channel’s App, its YouTube Account and Facebook page, as well as ABC7′s 7.2 channel at 7 p.m. Jan. 19.

The proceedings will be rebroadcast at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 22. on ABC7′s main channel, 7.1, and they will be simultaneously translated and aired live on Univision’s digital platforms (website, app, YouTube channel and Facebook page) and on UNIMAS (WXFT-TV) at 4 p.m. Jan. 22.

All nine candidates — State Rep Kambium “Kam” Buckner, U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy’' Garcia, activist Ja’Mal Green, Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, 4th Ward Ald. Sophia King, incumbent Mayor Lori Lightfoot, 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer, former CPS CEO Paul Vallas and Businessman Willie L. Wilson — are slated to participate.

Candidates have been taking part in various forums across the city for the past several weeks. The first to feature Lightfoot and Garcia — considered to be the frontrunners — took place Jan. 7.