TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist — who was once Florida's governor as a Republican — have agreed to face off against each other in a debate.
The debate will be hosted by WPEC CBS 12 in West Palm Beach. DeSantis' campaign confirmed he will be attending this debate.
Crist, on the other hand, says he has agreed to three debates, including one that will be televised statewide. 10 Tampa Bay is still waiting to hear back from DeSantis' campaign about his decision for the other two debates.
The "Before You Vote" debate is set for Oct. 20 for the gubernatorial candidates, should they both agree to attend. According to its website, the debate is the "longest-running televised debate series in Florida’s modern history."
A separate debate for the U.S. Senate will be held on Oct. 18. Republican incumbent Marco Rubio is running for reelection against Democratic nominee Val Demings. Both nominees' campaigns confirmed they will participate in the televised debate.
The third debate Crist agreed to is the Decision 2022 Debate.
“I look forward to debating Ron DeSantis and holding him accountable for his extremist, anti-choice, billionaire donor agenda,” Crist said this week in a statement announcing he was participating in the debates. “If Ron DeSantis wants to take away more of our freedoms and rights, the least he can do is show up and tell Florida voters why.”