JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 Both major candidates running for U.S. Senate in Missouri have agreed to a televised debate ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley said Wednesday morning on social media that he would appear at an Oct. 31 debate hosted by Nexstar. Democrat Lucas Kunce said he accepted the same invitation more than a week ago.
The debate is set to air on Nexstar鈥檚 St. 不良研究所导航网址 television stations 鈥 KTVI (Channel 2) and KPLR (Channel 11) 鈥 as well as the company鈥檚 stations in Kansas City, Springfield and Joplin, according to an invitation letter Hawley shared.
Kurt Krueger, general manager for KTVI and KPLR, confirmed Wednesday that the debate was on for 7 p.m. on Oct. 31.
It could be the only time the two contenders meet on the debate stage this election after the two candidates argued about debates at the Missouri State Fair in August.
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Nexstar had initially scheduled a debate for Oct. 9. Kunce said Wednesday that Nexstar pushed the date back because Hawley ignored its previous invitation.
Hawley, on social media, wondered if Kunce would 鈥渟how up鈥 to the Oct. 31 debate after the Democrat refused to attend a debate hosted by the Missouri Farm Bureau at the state fair. The farm bureau鈥檚 political action committee in February.
Kunce, in response, said Hawley had refused to accept any other televised debate offers even though Kunce had called for five televised debates.
鈥淲hy do you have to always lie to Missouri?鈥 Kunce asked.
No other events between the two candidates had been confirmed as of Wednesday.
Hawley, as of Wednesday morning, had not agreed to a forum Friday hosted by the Missouri Press Association in Springfield, which Kunce is scheduled to attend along with Better Party candidate Jared Young and Green Party candidate Nathan Kline.
Gubernatorial candidates are set to meet at a forum prior to the Senate event.
Mark Maassen, executive director of the press association, said Wednesday that both major party nominees 鈥 Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade 鈥 were set to attend, along with Libertarian Bill Slantz and Paul Lehmann of the Green Party.
The gubernatorial forum is scheduled for 2 p.m. and the Senate forum is set for 3:20 p.m. Both events will be streamed live on the History Museum on the Square .