WTIP to broadcast three candidate forums ahead of November election

As part of WTIP’s 2026 election coverage, the station will host three candidate forums over the next week featuring candidates in two Cook County commissioner races and the Cook County sheriff’s race.

Each forum will be one hour and will be moderated by WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins. The forums will be broadcast live beginning at 5 p.m. on the following dates:

Monday, Sept. 21: Cook County Commissioner District 3 candidates Dave Mills and Roger Westerlind.

Monday, Sept. 28: Cook County Commissioner District 1 candidates Deb White and Matt Kelm.

Tuesday, Sept. 29: Cook County Sheriff candidates Ben Hallberg and Ty Backlund.

The forums will give candidates an opportunity to respond to questions about local issues and priorities ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

WTIP has also collected questions from listeners and Cook County community members to help shape its 2026 election coverage and will incorporate those questions into the forum.

The forums can be heard live on WTIP at 90.7 FM in Grand Marais, 89.1 FM on Gunflint Lake, and 90.1 FM in Grand Portage, as well as streaming online at WTIP.org or on the WTIP App.