Senate rivals gear up for debates

Senate candidates are gearing up for debate showdowns as the race for the majority nears the finish line. 

{mosads}Democrats need a net gain of four seats to retake Senate control if Hilary Clinton wins the White House, or five seats if Donald Trump is elected. They are defending 10 seats in the election, while Republicans have a more uphill battle, defending 24 seats.

Here’s a list of upcoming Senate debates in the marquee races. 

Florida: Sen. Marco Rubio (R) vs. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D) 

Rubio and Murphy have agreed to two debates so far: one in Orlando on Oct. 17 and one in Davie, Fla., on Oct. 26.

But there have been many more proposed match-ups that the two candidates haven’t agreed on. Rubio has accepted eight debate invitations and has accused his opponent of ducking debates. Murphy has agreed to participate in three debates and one forum.

New Hampshire: Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) 

Both Ayotte and Hassan have agreed to six debates. The first will be held on Sept. 30 in Conway, N.H., and hosted by the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council. Three more will air on live TV, including NECN on Oct. 3, NH1 on Oct. 27 and WMUR on Nov. 2. There will also be two radio debates: one on Oct. 14 hosted by NH Today and another on Oct. 25 hosted by NHPR/Business and Industry Association. 

Ayotte’s campaign has been pushing for an additional debate focusing specifically on national security, but Hassan has declined that invitation. 

North Carolina: Sen. Richard Burr (R) vs. former state Rep. Deborah Ross (D)

The candidates have finalized plans for a debate on Oct. 13 sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters.

Missouri: Sen. Roy Blunt (R) vs. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D)

There are not yet any debates scheduled in the Missouri race, but it will feature one candidate forum, which will be held on Sept. 30 in Branson at 2:30 p.m.

The forum is sponsored by the Missouri Press Association and also includes Libertarian Jonathan Dine, Constitution Party candidate Fred Ryman and Green Party candidate Johnathan McFarland.

Illinois: Sen. Mark Kirk (R) vs. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D)

The campaigns have agreed to two debates: Oct. 3 with the Chicago Tribune editorial board and another one in late October hosted by University of Illinois, Springfield/State Journal-Register/WICS-20/WMAY 

Duckworth has also agreed to a debate on Oct. 26 hosted by City Club of Chicago/WTTW. She also agreed to participate in ABC-7/League of Women Voters Illinois/WGBO-Univision debate, but the date is to be determined. 

Kirk’s campaign has also proposed a bilingual debate hosted by WGN/Latino Policy Forum.

Wisconsin: Sen. Ron Johnson (R) vs. former Sen. Russ Feingold (D) 

There are two scheduled debates. One is an hour-long debate on Oct. 14 in Green Bay and sponsored by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Foundation. The second debate, which will last for 90 minutes, will be held on Oct. 18 and hosted by WISN-TV and Marquette University Law School.

Colorado: Sen. Michael Bennet (D) vs. El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn (R) 

Colorado has already held one debate and has another coming up in a few weeks.

Bennet and Glenn squared off in Grand Junction at Club 20 on Sept. 10. The upcoming face-off on Oct. 11, hosted by KUSA/Denver Business Journal, is the only televised debate of the Senate race. 

Pennsylvania: Sen. Pat Toomey (R) vs. former gubernatorial chief of staff Katie McGinty (D) 

Two debates have been scheduled: one on Oct. 17 with KDKA in Pittsburgh, and the other on Oct. 24 with WPVI in Philadelphia.

Ohio: Sen. Rob Portman (R) vs. former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) 

Both campaigns have agreed to three debates: Oct. 14 in Youngstown sponsored by WFMJ and The Vindicator; Oct. 17 in Columbus sponsored by 10TV and the Columbus Dispatch; and Oct. 20 in Cleveland sponsored by the Cleveland City Club and Scripps ABC.

Each debate will last one hour with the opportunity to give 90-second answers, 90-second responses, 30-second rebuttals, and two-minute opening and closing statements. Candidates cannot ask each other questions. Both campaigns and debate hosts will agree on moderators and panelists.

Nevada: Rep. Joe Heck (R) vs. former Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto (D) 

Both campaigns have agreed to one debate on Oct. 14 sponsored by Univision-KLAS.

Cortez Masto’s campaign is hoping for an additional debate in Reno and another hosted by veteran Nevada journalist Jon Ralston. 

Iowa: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) vs. former Lt. Gov. Patty Judge (D) 

There are also no finalized debates in the Hawkeye State. Judge’s campaign has accepted five debates: KCRG/Cedar Rapids Gazette, KCCI/Des Moines Register, KTIV, KWQC/Quad City Times and Iowa Public Television.

Grassley’s campaign has agreed to two debates: one on IPTV in Johnston and another on WHO-AM. They say Judge’s campaign hasn’t accepted either debate invitation. 

Indiana: Rep. Todd Young (R) vs. former Sen. Evan Bayh (D) 

The campaigns finalized one debate on Oct. 18. The hour-long debate will air on WFYI in Indianapolis and also include Libertarian Lucy Brenton. The state’s debate commission is looking to schedule another one. 

Arizona: Sen. John McCain (R) vs. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D)

McCain agreed to participate in a debate on Oct. 10 hosted by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona PBS and Republic Media: Arizona Republic, azcentral.com and La Voz.