Illinois Voters Can Watch Candidate Interviews Before Primary

Livestream to feature interviews with candidates in 17th Congressional District race

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:50pm

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Voters in Illinois can watch interviews with candidates in the 17th Congressional District race ahead of the state's primary election on Tuesday, March 17. The interviews will air in a special Decision 2026 livestream at 2 p.m. on the station's website and streaming platforms.

Why it matters

The 17th Congressional District race is one to watch in the Illinois primary, with incumbent Eric Sorensen facing off against Republican challengers Julie Bickelhaupt and Dillan Vancil. The candidate interviews provide voters an opportunity to hear directly from the contenders before casting their ballots.

The details

The six-question interviews with the three candidates will give voters insight into the key issues and positions of each hopeful for the congressional seat. The livestream will air on the KWQC website and streaming platforms.

  • The Illinois primary election is on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
  • The candidate interviews will air in a special Decision 2026 livestream at 2 p.m. on the day of the primary.

The players

Eric Sorensen

The incumbent Democratic congressman in the 17th District.

Julie Bickelhaupt

One of the Republican candidates hoping to unseat Sorensen.

Dillan Vancil

The other Republican candidate in the 17th District race.

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What’s next

Voters in the 17th Congressional District of Illinois will head to the polls on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 to cast their ballots in the primary election.

The takeaway

The candidate interviews provide Illinois voters in the 17th District an opportunity to hear directly from the contenders for the congressional seat ahead of the primary election, helping them make an informed decision at the ballot box.