West Side and Suburban Forums Give Voters In-Person Look at 2026 Candidates

Two candidate forums held on the West Side and in the west suburbs offered voters an opportunity to engage with those seeking elected office. 

The Westside Branch NAACP hosted a forum on Jan. 17 at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, 5500 W. Madison St. in Austin, for candidates running to succeed longtime 8th district state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford in the General Assembly. 

Among the four candidates running—LaToya Mitts, Shantel Franklin, John Harrell, and Jill Bush—Franklin and Bush participated in the Saturday forum. 

Bush is a small business owner and Director of Community Engagement for Alderman Chris Taliaferro in the 29th Ward 

Franklin has worked in real estate and as a legislative liaison for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Meanwhile, the Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network (PTMAN), Interfaith, and the Proviso Township branch of the NAACP, hosted a candidate forum on Jan. 17 at Proviso Math and Science Academy (PMSA) in Forest Park for anyone running for an elected office in Illinois.  

Eleven candidates registered, six of whom are running to succeed 7th district Rep. Danny K. Davis in Congress. Democrats La Shawn K. Ford, Rory Hoskins, Anthony Driver Jr., Richard R. Boykin, and Republican Patricia “P Rae” Easley attended the PMSA forum. 

Five candidates running in other Democratic Primary races registered, including Illinois Comptroller candidate Stephanie Kifowit, a state representative (84th); Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi; Tim Thomas and Mary “May” Larry, both of whom are running for 

7th State Central Committeeperson; and Judge Michael Cabonargi, who is running for a judicial seat on the Cook County Circuit Court. 

The Forest Park forum was the first forum PTMAN and Interfaith have hosted without Bishop Claude Porter, the towering pastor and social organizer who founded the organizations. Before the forum started, Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch presented Bishop Reginald Saffo, PTMAN’s chairman, with a resolution from the Illinois House of Representatives honoring Porter’s life. 

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Watch the Forums

• You can watch the PTMAN forums here. 
• You can watch the Aspirce Center forum here. 

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Upcoming Forums

The Culture has partnered with the Westside Branch NAACP and other local organizations to host four more candidate forums for the following races:  

• U.S. Senate: This forum was previously scheduled for Feb. 5, but candidates’ scheduling conflicts prompted this event to be postponed to a later, still undetermined date. 
• 7th Congressional District: Tuesday, Jan. 27, 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.), at Collins Academy STEAM High School, 1313 S. Sacramento Dr. in North Lawndale. 
• Cook County Board President: Thursday, Feb. 5, 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.), at Collins Academy STEAM High School, 1313 S. Sacramento Dr. in North Lawndale.
• Cook County Assessor: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 6 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.), at Collins Academy STEAM High School, 1313 S. Sacramento Dr. in North Lawndale.