FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic challenger Charlie Crist will have their one and only gubernatorial debate on Oct. 24 — 12 days later than originally planned.
The debate had been set for Wednesday, but it was postponed as the focus of elected officials, including DeSantis, shifted to the response to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian.
The debate going ahead could help Crist. The former Democratic congressman, who was the Republican governor from 2007 to 2011, is behind DeSantis in multiple polls, and appearing on the same stage as DeSantis could help get more attention for his campaign and draw more attention to his criticisms of the governor. DeSantis has raised far more money than Crist and has a much more robust television ad campaign.
“This debate is important. Florida voters deserve a chance to hear from both candidates in the race to determine who will lead our state for the next four years,” Crist said in a statement.
The late date of the rescheduled debate — just 15 days before the Nov. 8 election — is bad for Crist.
People are already voting by mail, and many people will have cast their ballots by the day of the debate. As of Monday morning, the state Division of Elections reported more than 4 million ballots had been sent to Florida voters. About 95,000 have been competed and returned.
In much of Florida — including Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties — in-person early voting starts the day of the debate.
The debate, sponsored by Sinclair Broadcast Group’s WPEC-Ch. 12 in West Palm Beach, takes place at 7 p.m. The moderator is longtime WPEC-Channel 12 anchor Liz Quirantes.
The company said in an announcement Monday that broadcasters across the state would air the debate.
Sinclair said the debate would also air in these TV markets:
— Miami-Fort Lauderdale: WFOR-TV (Channel 4).
— Pensacola-Fort Walton Beach: WEAR-TV (Channel 3).
— Tallahassee: WTWC-TV (Channel 40).
— Gainesville: WGFL-TV (Channel 28).
— Panama City: WMBB-TV (Channel 13).
— Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg: WFLA-TV (Channel 8).
— Jacksonville: WJAX-TV (Channel 19) / WFOX-TV (Channel 14).
— Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne: WFTV-TV (Channel 9).
— Fort Myers-Naples: WBBH-TV (Channel 20).
It will also be livestreamed on the websites of Sinclair stations WPEC, WEAR, WTWC and WGFL.
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