CHICAGO, Ill. — It was an unusual way to have a primary election debate — on two separate stages — at two separate locations — on two separate TV outlets.
That’s how the six Republican candidates for Illinois Governor handled things for a key debate Tuesday night.
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, former state senator Paul Schimpf, and Max Solomon appeared on NBC 5 in Chicago while State Sen. Darren Bailey, businessman Gary Rabine, and venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan appeared on WGN.
The candidates quickly addressed the school shooting in Texas, calling for more security at schools.
Later, all the candidates seemed to advocate for the overturn of Roe v Wade, except Irvin, who said it is still “irresponsible” for him to comment on the matter of a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion.
The candidates also raised the issue of increasing crime in Illinois and how they would work with police to try and repeal the state’s newer SAFE-T Act.
The bill was championed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
Additionally, in the early debate, Irvin, Schimpf and Solomon all refused to characterize the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol as an insurrection.
