Capitol Cast: Illinois

Illinois businessman Rick Heidner, a Republican candidate for governor, discusses his campaign with CNI reporters Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore. The interview is part of CNI's Election '26 podcast series focusing on major party candidates for statewide office in the Marchf 17 primaries.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey speaks with CNI reporters Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore about his campaign. Bailey is a farmer from Xenia and a former state senator who was also the GOP nominee for governor in 2022.

Ted Dabrowski, a former researcher for the online news outlet Wirepoints, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor. He speaks with Capitol News Illinois reporters Brenden Moore and Ben Szalinski as part of CNI's Election '26 podcast series.

As a part of a series of interviews focusing on contested races for major-party nominations in the March 17 primary elections, Capitol News Illinois reporters Peter Hancock and Brenden Moore talk with state Representative Margaret Croke (D-Chicago) about her campaign for Illinois Comptroller.

Karina Villa discusses her candidacy for Illinois comptroller. She is currently a Democratic state senator from West Chicago. This interview is part of a special series of podcasts focusing on major party candidates for statewide offices in the upcoming March 17 primaries.

Stephanie Kifowit is a Democratic candidate for Illinois comptroller. She currently serves as a state representative from Ogden. She spoke with Capitol News Illinois on Friday, Jan. 23, as part of our series featuring major party candidates running for statewide offices in the March 17 primaries.

An in-depth interview with Holly Kim, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Illinois comptroller. This is the first in a series of special episodes focusing on candidates for statewide office in the March 17 primary elections.

In a follow-up to a report we featured last year, new research shows there are some education and career pathways that enable young people who grow up in lower-income households to climb up the economic ladder. Meg Bates, director of the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, discusses her latest research.

The 2026 legislative session is about to get underway. Peter Hancock talks with CNI reporters Ben Szalinski and Brenden Moore about what to expect in the weeks ahead. We also introduce the two Public Affairs Reporting program interns that will be working with CNI through the session, Nikoel Hytrek and Jenna Schweikert.

The CNI news team discusses some of the major stories of 2025 including Illinois' battles with the Trump administration, the retirement of Sen. Dick Durbin, candidates lining up for the 2026 elections, the Chicago area transit funding crisis and the possibility of energy shortages on the horizon.