DeSantis Accepts Debate as Some Battleground Democrats Not Committing

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis will face off against Democrat candidate for governor Charlie Crist in a CBS12 televised debate in October.

The DeSantis Campaign’s Director of Rapid Response, Christina Pushaw, said the debate will be available to watch statewide.

Florida’s gubernatorial candidates will debate as politicians in other key battleground states are still undecided. For example, Arizona Democrat candidate for governor Katie Hobbs declined Friday to a televised debate with Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.

Lake reportedly said she would debate Hobbs at any time, let Hobbs pick the moderator, and write the questions.

“I’ll follow any of the rules you want, just show up and debate me,” Lake reportedly said, “And so far she has not agreed to that. She’s a coward.”

Hobbs’ campaign instead proposed individual interviews with a moderator.

Democrat candidate for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate seat, John Fetterman, declined to debate Republican candidate Mehmet Oz that was scheduled for Sept. 7. The Fetterman campaign said he was still working to improve his auditory processing and speech after a stroke.

Oz has continued to question why his opponent is refusing to debate with supporters saying Fetterman is either “hiding his views” or is unable to participate.

Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, Cheri Beasley, has reportedly agreed to a debate while Republican candidate Ted Budd has not said whether he would accept this debate invitation or another.

In Nevada’s U.S. Senate race, a spokesperson for Republican nominee Adam Laxalt reportedly said he “looks forward” to debating Democratic incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto. However, Laxalt’s team has not agreed to any debate invitations and is still reviewing debate options.

In Wisconsin, Democrat candidate Mandela Barns and Republican incumbent Ron Johnson have reportedly not spoken about their debate plans. In an interesting note, Barns cited a “pretty packed schedule” as the reason for not appearing with President Joe Biden for his speech in Milwaukee.