Candidate Interviews 2025-2026
When WCPT hosts Richard Chew, Joan Esposito, Patti Vasquez, 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; this is an archive of interviews recorded before the March 17, 2026 Illinois primary election and includes candidates who did not advance to the general election in November.)
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Chris Taylor (4-3-26).
Richard Chew talks to Shawn Harris, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 14th District of Georgia, where a special election runoff takes place April 7.
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to Shawn Harris, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 14th District of Georgia, where a special election will take place March 10 to replace Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress (3-6-26).
– Richard Chew talks to Shawn Harris, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 14th District of Georgia, where a special election will take place next year to replace incumbent Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is resigning. (11-24-25)
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 14th District congressional candidate Shawn Harris (11-5-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi (3-17-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi (7-15-25).
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 U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (11-3-25).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito and USA Today columnist Rex Huppke talk to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (3-16-26)
– “Out Chicago” hosts Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (3-15-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (11-3-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Robin Kelly (7-22-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois comptroller candidate Stephanie Kifowit (3-13-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois comptroller candidate Stephanie Kifowit (2-16-26).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Mike Simmons (3-13-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez and Illinois 5th District congressional candidate Matt Conroy talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Mike Simmons (2-24-26).
– “Out Chicago” hosts Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Mike Simmons (2-15-26).
– Scott Duff and “Out Chicago” guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Mike Simmons (11-9-25).
– Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Mike Simmons (7-27-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Bushra Amiwala (11-6-25).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Bushra Amiwala (11-6-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Bushra Amiwala (9-26-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Bushra Amiwala (7-11-25).
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).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Willie Preston (3-12-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Willie Preston (11-4-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Willie Preston (8-22-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (3-12-26).
Also available:
– “Out Chicago” hosts Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (2-1-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (1-5-26).
talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (10-13-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh (9-29-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Phil Andrew (3-11-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Phil Andrew (1-16-26).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Phil Andrew (11-18-25).
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 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Robert Peters (3-11-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Robert Peters (1-13-26).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Robert Peters (11-7-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 7th District congressional candidate Reed Showalter (3-10-26).
Also available:
– Filling in for Patti Vasquez, Paul Chivari talks to 2026 7th District congressional candidate Reed Showalter (10-31-25).
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 candidate for Cook County assessor Fritz Kaegi (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).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Carmen Navarre Gercone talk to 2026 Illinois 7th Congressional District candidate Anabel Mendoza (3-9-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th Congressional District candidate Anabel Mendoza (2-19-25).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 7th Congressional District candidate Anabel Mendoza (12-1-25).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Carmen Navarre Gercone talk to 2026 Illinois 8th Congressional District candidate Sanjyot Dunung (3-9-26).
“Out Chicago” hosts Scott Duff and Ellen Miller talk to 2026 Illinois House District 93 candidate Zoey Carter (3-8-26).
Richard Chew talks to Shawn Harris, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 14th District of Georgia, where a special election will take place March 10 to replace Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned from Congress (3-6-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to Shawn Harris, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 14th District of Georgia, where a special election will take place next year to replace incumbent Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is resigning. (11-24-25)
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 14th District congressional candidate Shawn Harris (11-5-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate La Shawn Ford (3-6-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate La Shawn Ford (1-29-26).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate La Shawn Ford (8-6-25).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Dwayne Kennedy talk to 2026 13th District congressional candidate Dylan Blaha, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Nikki Budzinski. They’re also joined by Joel Ostrow, professor of political science at Benedictine University (3-5-26).
Also available:
– Scott Duff and guest co-host Tania Richard talk to 2026 13th District congressional candidate Dylan Blaha, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Nikki Budzinski (11-2-25).
– Filling in for Patti Vasquez, Joel Ostrow talks to 2026 13th District congressional candidate Dylan Blaha, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Nikki Budzinski (10-30-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate Dr. Thomas Fisher (3-5-25).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate Dr. Thomas Fisher (2-5-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate Dr. Thomas Fisher (10-2-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate Jazmin J. Robinson (3-4-26).
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).
Patti Vasquez and in-studio guests Soli Santos and Eira Sepúlveda talk to 2026 Illinois 10th District congressional candidate Morgan Coghill (3-2-26).
“Out Chicago” host Scott Duff and guest co-host Tania Richards talk to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (3-1-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (2-25-26).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (1-6-26).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (9-23-25).
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (7-16-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (6-30-25).
– Filling in for Patti Vasquez Scott Duff talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (6-21-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Kevin Morrison (6-3-25).
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).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 5th District congressional candidate Matt Conroy (2-24-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 5th District congressional candidate Matt Conroy (1-20-26).
– Patti Vasquez (broadcasting from Los Angeles) talks to 2026 Illinois 5th District congressional candidate Matt Conroy (11-10-25).
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 U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Ryan (2-23-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Ryan (2-20-26).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Ryan (12-9-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois comptroller candidate Holly Kim (2-23-26).
Also available:
– Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois comptroller candidate Holly Kim (12-30-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois House District 52 candidate Maria Peterson (2-20-26).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois House District 52 candidate Erin Chan Ding (2-19-26).
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 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Junaid Ahmed (2-17-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Junaid Ahmed (1-9-26).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Junaid Ahmed (9-11-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Daniel Tully (2-11-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Daniel Tully (12-9-25).
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Daniel Tully (11-4-25).
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).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Illinois 7th Congressional District candidate Melissa Conyears-Ervin (1-26-26).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal talk to 2026 Illinois 6th District congressional candidate Joey Ruzevich (1-22-26).
Edwin Eisendrath talks to 2026 candidate for Ohio lieutenant governor David Pepper (1-17-26).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Neil Khot (1-16-26).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Neil Khot (10-20-25).
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 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Yasmeen Bankole (1-9-26).
Also available:
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 8th District congressional candidate Yasmeen Bankole (7-18-25).
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 talks to 2026 Iowa 2nd District congressional candidate Dave Bushaw, an Independent (12-29-25).
Patti Vasquez is joined by Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota (12-1-25).
Patti Vasquez is joined by Nick Uniejewski, candidate for Illinois state Senate (12-1-25).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 candidate for Illinois state Senate Nick Uniejewski (9-12-25). He is challenging incumbent Sen. Sara Feigenholtz in the March 2026 Democratic primary.
Richard Chew talks to Renee Hardman, 2025 candidate for Iowa State Senate. The special election is December 30.
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Jeff Cohen (11-21-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Michigan 1st District congressional candidate Callie Barr (11-20-25).
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 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Sam Polan (11-14-25).
Richard Chew talks to 2026 candidate for Texas House of Representatives Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch (11-14-25).
Richard Chew and in-studio guest Rico Mowatt are joined by Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee state representative and newly announced candidate for Congress in the 9th Congressional District of Tennessee.
Also available:
– Filling in for Richard Chew, Michelle Peltier talks to 9th Congressional District of Tennessee Justin J. Pearson (10-9-25).
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 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath (11-5-25).
Also available:
Richard Chew talks to 2026 Kentucky U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath (10-14-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 9th District congressional candidate Hoan Huynh (10-23-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 7th District congressional candidate Kina Collins (10-23-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to Montez Soliz, 2026 candidate for Congress in the 17th District of Illinois; he is challenging incumbent Democrat Rep. Eric Sorensen (10-24-25).
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).
Joan Esposito talks to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan (10-8-25).
Filling in for Joan Esposito, William Muck talks to 2026 California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra (8-29-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Texas U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred (8-27-25).
Filling in for Patti Vasquez, WCPT’s Paul Chivari talks to 2026 Illinois 16th District congressional candidate Brendyn Morgan (8-19-25).
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).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 2nd District congressional candidate Yumeka Brown (8-7-25).
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).
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Jesse Rojo talk to Tennessee State Rep. Aftyn Behn, candidate for Congress in a Tennessee special election (7-23-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Laura Fine (7-16-25).
Also available:
– Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Laura Fine (6-6-25).
– Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Illinois 9th District congressional candidate Laura Fine (5-17-25).
Filling in for Patti Vasquez, WCPT’s Paul Chivari talks to 2026 16 District Illinois congressional candidate Joe Albright (6-27-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 candidate for Illinois House Jesse Rojo (6-19-25).
Joan Esposito talks to 2026 Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson (6-4-25).
Patti Vasquez talks to 2026 Illinois state Senate candidate Rachel Ruttenberg (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).