Republican Bruce Rauner will be the next Illinois governor as Pat Quinn officially conceded at 3:30 pm Wednesday.

U.S. Senate candidates for Illinois  -- Sen. Dick Durbin and Jim Oberweis -- gave a brief news conference following the forum.

U.S. Senate Candidate Forum

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican challenger Jim Oberweis go head-to-head in Chicago Tonight’s Senate Forum.

As the latest polls show the race between Sen.  Dick Durbin and his challenger Jim Oberweis tightening, the long-serving Illinois senator joins us to discuss the Senate race, congressional dysfunction, and other hot-button issues.

Carol Marin and four political journalists analyze where the candidates stand in the latest polls, and how money is influencing the hotly contested races.

Bruce Rauner has won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in the November election. Check out the winners for key races in the March Primary Election.

Downers Grove businessman Doug Truax and entrepreneur Jim Oberweis are competing in the Republican Primary for the opportunity to take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. Truax joins us. Oberweis has declined our invitation to participate. Read an article, and view bios and career timelines of the candidates.

Welcome to Chicago Tonight’s online coverage of the 2014 race for the U.S. Senate. You can read profiles of the candidates, view timelines of their careers, and catch all of their appearances on Chicago Tonight.

Wednesday, Oct. 22: U.S. Senate Candidate Forum

Jim Oberweis is throwing his hat in the ring to become Illinois' next U.S. Senator in 2014.

Doug Truax is throwing his hat in the ring to become Illinois' next U.S. Senator in 2014.

Sen. Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois.