In this Nov. 15, 2011, file photo former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Carolyn Kaster, File)

“Never Trump” Republicans are eager to see the president confront a credible primary adversary. But the party will likely erect structural barriers that make that kind of challenge exceedingly difficult.

In this Nov. 15, 2011, file photo former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo / Carolyn Kaster, File)

Joe Walsh, a former Illinois congressman and tea party favorite turned radio talk show host, announced a challenge Sunday to President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2020.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx appears on “Chicago Tonight” on Dec. 20, 2018.

Cook County Circuit Court Clerk candidate Michael Cabonargi, Illinois Supreme Court candidate P. Scott Neville and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx will have the coveted endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party in next year’s elections.

Democrats take the stage for Governor’s Day at the state fair in Springfield. Our politics team tackles the 2020 election and more in our weekly roundtable.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, talk after the second of two Democratic presidential primary debates hosted by CNN Wednesday, July 31, 2019, in the Fox Theatre in Detroit. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya)

The evening marked some of the toughest attacks California Sen. Kamala Harris has faced as a candidate. The exchanges were part of a broader ideological fight for the future of the Democratic Party.

From left, Marianne Williamson, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, former Maryland Rep. John Delaney and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock participate in the first of two Democratic presidential primary debates hosted by CNN Tuesday, July 30, 2019, in the Fox Theatre in Detroit. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya)

Should Democrats be going big or getting real? That’s the question that dominated the Democratic presidential primary debate as progressive favorites Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders fended off attacks from lesser-known moderates. 

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., center, answers a question, during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami. Listening from left are, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

This week, 20 Democratic hopefuls again take the stage to debate the issues currently at the forefront of the 2020 presidential election. Jason DeSanto of Northwestern University previews the event.

Democratic presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks during a news conference at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Annual International Convention in Chicago, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. (AP Photo / Amr Alfiky)

Looking to improve his standing with black voters, Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg pitched a plan Tuesday to tackle “systemic racism” he said exists in housing, health care, education, policing and other aspects of American life.

In this June 27, 2019, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-California, gestures during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush said Kamala Harris was “the only candidate prepared to fight for all Americans against a Trump administration that has left them behind.”

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden addresses the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Annual International Convention Friday, June 28, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo / Charles Rex Arbogast)

Joe Biden strongly defended his civil rights record on Friday, pledging to be a “president who stands against racism” and “the forces of intolerance” and defiantly dismissing any suggestions otherwise.

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., center, answers a question, during the Democratic primary debate hosted by NBC News at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Art, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, in Miami. Listening from left are, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro, Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

How the first round of Democrats tried to set themselves apart on a packed stage, and how the second group of candidates might fare. A conversation with Jason DeSanto.

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, takes questions from reporters following his speech at the City Club of Chicago on May 16, 2019.

The election is a long way off, but current polls give the South Bend mayor a decent shot at the White House.

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg

The South Bend, Indiana, mayor tells us about his new memoir “Shortest Way Home” – and why his eyes are set on the White House.