Independent Candidate Collin Corbett Challenges Exclusion From WTTW Governor Forum (Palatine, IL) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett is asking WTTW to include him in its scheduled Oct. 13 forum, which currently features Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker and Republican candidate Darren Bailey.
Corbett held a press conference outside WTTW in Chicago to object to his exclusion from the event. His campaign argues that independent voters should have the opportunity to hear from all candidates appearing on the November ballot.
According to Corbett’s campaign, WTTW initially cited two criteria for determining which candidates could participate. One required candidates to be nominees of political parties recognized under Illinois law. Corbett’s legal team challenged that requirement in a Sept. 10 letter, arguing that it was not viewpoint-neutral. His campaign said WTTW subsequently dropped that criterion.
The second requirement calls for a candidate to receive at least 15% support in a professionally conducted public opinion survey completed after the primary by an independent pollster.
Corbett’s campaign disputes how that requirement has been applied, pointing to previous WTTW forums involving Chicago school board and mayoral candidates. The campaign said candidates have previously been included in forums despite not meeting the stated polling threshold or, in some cases, when qualifying polling was unavailable.
“We Independents make up 47% of the electorate, nearly double each major party,” Corbett said. “The Independent candidate belongs on the forum stage.”
Corbett also cited polling figures regarding moderate voters and argued that voters should have an opportunity to compare the candidates seeking the governor’s office.
WTTW’s Oct. 13 gubernatorial forum is currently scheduled to include Pritzker and Bailey. Corbett is seeking to be added to the event and said voters should be able to hear directly from all candidates on the ballot.
Corbett is an independent candidate, political strategist and small business owner from Palatine. His campaign says he has spent more than two decades working with organizations and political campaigns across the country.
Independent Candidate Collin Corbett Challenges Exclusion From WTTW Governor Forum
