UChicago, NBC 5 to co-host Republican gubernatorial forum

Update: Free tickets to this event are available for UChicago students and the general public, either online at ticketsweb.uchicago.edu, by phone at 773-702-ARTS or in person at the Logan Center box office from noon to 6 p.m. Click here for more information on ticket availability.

The Republican candidates running for governor of Illinois will participate in a forum on Tuesday, March 4, co-sponsored by NBC 5 Chicago and the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics and Harris School of Public Policy.

All four candidates in the Republican primary—Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Bruce Rauner and Dan Rutherford—will participate in the 60-minute forum, which will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. on NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) from the David and Reva Logan Center for the Arts’ Performance Hall. The event will include an additional 30-minute question-and-answer session with the audience at the end.

“We are honored and excited to host these candidates, one of whom could be the next governor of Illinois,” said David Axelrod, the Institute’s inaugural director. “For our students, it’s a unique chance to witness firsthand one of the great rites of democracy, free and open forum. We hope to establish the University of Chicago and IOP as a regular home for such events.”

“Our commitment at Chicago Harris to evidence-based argument, broad dialogue and unfettered exchange of ideas makes this the perfect forum for candidates to present themselves,” said Chicago Harris Dean Colm O’Muircheartaigh.

The event will feature a moderated roundtable-conversation format, in which candidates will respond to questions posed by award-winning broadcast journalist and NBC 5 Political Editor Carol Marin.

“We are delighted to broadcast this forum live to our viewers. NBC 5 is committed to providing the best political coverage in town and giving voters the information they need for Election Day,” said NBC 5 president and general manager David Doebler.

Organizers from UChicago and NBC 5 will consider questions submitted in advance of the forum via social media. A select few social media users’ questions will be chosen for inclusion in the live debate. These users will be invited to attend the event and ask their questions directly to the candidates. When submitting questions in advance or commenting during the debate, please use the hashtag #ILGovTalk.

The forum will be open to all members of the media. UChicago will provide a room for post-forum media availabilities following the conclusion of the event at 7:30 p.m.