Candidate Interviews
When WCPT hosts Richard Chew, Joan Esposito, Patti Vasquez, Edwin Eisendrath, and Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to candidates running in races across the state and across the country, we’ll post the interviews here. (The most recent conversations are at top.)
* To find all of the 2025-2026 candidate interviews our hosts recorded before the March 17 Illinois primary, visit the Candidate Interviews 2025-2026 page. (The interviews available below do not include candidates who did not advance to the general election.)
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath (4-22-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath (11-5-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath (10-14-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 12th District congressional candidate Julie Fortier (4-21-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 12th District congressional candidate Julie Fortier (3-31-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Ohio 14th District congressional candidate Bill O’Neill (4-20-26).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Indiana 5th District congressional candidate Jackson Franklin (4-17-26).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Ohio 7th District congressional candidate Brian Poindexter (4-17-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Tennessee 9th District congressional candidate Justin J. Pearson (4-12-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew and in-studio guest Rico Mowatt talk to 2026 Tennessee 9th District congressional candidate Justin J. Pearson (11-11-25).
– Filling in for Richard Chew, Michelle Peltier talks to 2026 Tennessee 9th District congressional candidate Justin J. Pearson (10-9-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Michigan 1st District congressional candidate Callie Barr (4-13-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Michigan 1st District congressional candidate Callie Barr (11-20-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Michigan 4th District congressional candidate Sean McCann (3-24-26).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (3-20-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (10-15-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (6-4-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (5-17-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Donna Miller and Illinois 7th District congressional candidate La Shawn Ford (3-20-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (3-6-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (1-29-26).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (8-6-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Donna Miller (3-10-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton (3-17-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton (11-4-25).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton (7-12-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Juliana Stratton (6-20-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Melissa Bean (3-12-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito is joined by Melissa Bean, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District of Illinois.
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Melissa Bean (11-6-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 16th District congressional candidate Paul Nolley (3-11-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 16th District congressional candidate Paul Nolley (7-12-25).
Joan Esposito talks to U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), 2026 candidate for Congress in the 13th District of Illinois (3-10-26).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Donna Miller (3-10-26).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 4th District congressional candidate Byron Sigcho-Lopez (3-10-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (3-6-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (1-29-26).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate LaShawn Ford (8-6-25).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Tim Walkoe talk to 2026 Illinois House District 13 candidate Demi Palecek (3-3-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois House District 13 candidate Demi Palecek (1-2-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois House District 13 candidate Demi Palecek (10-30-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor Pat Hynes (2-25-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor Pat Hynes (1-15-26).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor Pat Hynes (9-12-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois comptroller candidate Margaret Croke (2-25-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (2-24-26).
Also available:
– “Out Chicago” hosts Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (2-8-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (1-6-26).
– Filling in for Joan Esposito, Jill Wine-Banks talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (12-23-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (11-6-25).
– Filling in for Joan Esposito Mike Nellis talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (10-16-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Daniel Biss (6-10-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois House District 52 candidate Maria Peterson (2-20-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 candidate for Michigan governor Chris Swanson (2-18-26).
Also available:
Richard Chew talks to 2026 candidate for Michigan governor Chris Swanson (12-15-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Wisconsin 1st District congressional candidate Miguel Aranda (2-9-26).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews (2-9-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews (10-20-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews (7-31-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 4th District congressional candidate Mayra Macias (2-3-26).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-hosts Joe Kilgallon and Soli Santos talk to 2026 Wisconsin 6th District congressional candidate Mike Thurow (1-29-26).
Edwin Eisendrath talks to 2026 candidate for Ohio lieutenant governor David Pepper (1-17-26).
Patti Vasquez is joined by Kelda Roys, Wisconsin state senator and Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor (1-14-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys (9-30-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong (12-31-25).
Also available:
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong (11-4-25).
Patti Vasquez is joined by Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota (12-1-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Oklahoma candidate for governor Cyndi Munson (11-20-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (11-20-25).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed (8-28-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Joel Willett (11-10-25).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Joel Willett (11-6-25).
Richard Chew talks to Blythe Potter, 2026 candidate for Indiana secretary of state (10-22-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (10-15-25).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (6-4-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Patrick Hanley (5-17-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Michigan candidate for governor Garlin Gilchrist (8-15-25).
On August 14th Patti Vasquez broadcast live from Iowa Democratic Wing Ding in Clear Lake, Iowa, and her guests were:
Julie Stauch, Iowa candidate for governor
Jackie Norris, Iowa candidate for U.S. Senate
Zach Wahls, Iowa candidate for U.S. Senate
Josh Turek, Iowa candidate for U.S. Senate
Nathan Sage, Iowa candidate for U.S. Senate
Rob Sand, Iowa auditor and candidate for Iowa governor
Stephanie Steiner, Iowa candidate for U.S. House
Ashley WolfTornabane, Iowa candidate for U.S. House
Richard Chew talks to 2025 Texas 18th District congressional candidate Isaiah Martin (8-12-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (8-5-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Maine U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood (7-25-25).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Maine U.S. Senate candidate Jordan Wood (5-27-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson (6-4-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly (5-30-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow (5-22-25).
Also available:
– Filling in for Joan Esposito Mike Nellis talks to 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow (6-11-25).