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Photo Courtesy of Capitol News Illinois

Three Republicans Make Case for U.S. Senate Seat in Primary Debate

By Mike Wennmacher Feb 12, 2026 | 2:42 PM

In an hourlong debate hosted by ABC-7 Chicago in partnership with Univision and the League of Women Voters on Wednesday evening, three candidates in the six-person Republican Primary field for the U.S. Senate Seat pitched themselves as best equipped to flip the seat red after more than four decades in Democratic hands.

None directly criticized President Donald Trump, but each signaled differences on tariffs and rejected his call to “nationalize” elections, backing voter ID while keeping election administration in state hands.