Renzo Downey
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Charlie Crist will square off Oct. 24, preserving Florida’s one gubernatorial debate after Hurricane Ian led the candidates to postpone the original contest.
WPEC CBS 12 will host the debate in Fort Pierce at 7 p.m. that day, barely two weeks before Election Day. Local news networks will broadcast the debate across the state.
“WPEC-TV and Sinclair Broadcast Group would like to thank Nexstar Media Group, Cox Media Group, Waterman Broadcasting and CBS News and Stations for carrying our debate,” said Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President of News at Sinclair. “Through their distribution, this important debate will now be available across the state of Florida, giving viewers access to the only televised debate between the candidates.”
The debate was to take place this Wednesday. However, after Hurricane Ian struck Florida late last month, the debate was postponed to create time for recovery and in part for all Floridians to have the opportunity to view the debate, the only debate DeSantis and Crist have agreed to.
Crist, a former Republican Governor and recent Democratic U.S. Congressman, is challenging DeSantis in this year’s Nov. 8 General Election.
“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. “Voters also deserve to hear Gov. DeSantis defend his extremist anti-woman, anti-choice, anti-freedom agenda.”
The hurricane will likely become an election issue as the Republican Governor faces criticism for his hurricane response, including perceived delays in issuing evacuation orders in Lee County that, in some cases, gave residents just 24 hours to make evacuation arrangements. But during his visit to Southwest Florida, President Joe Biden praised DeSantis’ response, largely silencing critics.
Both candidates have been in Southwest Florida and other affected areas offering aid. Both candidates are in Port Charlotte Monday bringing donations and news of relief that is upcoming and underway.
Below are the stations that will broadcast the debate.
Sinclair Broadcast Group:
— Pensacola-Ft. Walton Beach: WEAR-TV (Channel 3).
— Tallahassee: WTWC-TV (Channel 40).
— Gainesville: WGFL-TV (Channel 28).
— West Palm Beach – Ft. Pierce: WPEC-TV (Channel 12).
Nexstar Media Group:
— Panama City: WMBB-TV (Channel 13).
— Tampa Bay – St. Petersburg: WFLA-TV (Channel 8).
Cox Media Group:
— Jacksonville: WJAX-TV (Channel 19) / WFOX-TV (Channel 14).
— Orlando – Daytona Beach – Melbourne: WFTV-TV (Channel 9).
CBS News and Stations:
— Miami – Ft. Lauderdale: WFOR-TV (Channel 4).
Waterman Broadcasting:
— Ft. Myers – Naples: WBBH-TV (Channel 20).
14 comments
Charlie Crist
October 10, 2022 at 1:10 pm
I don’t care if I lose the election. I’m going to challenge mini Hitler and I’m going to expose and humiliate him during the debate. I’m gonna shine a light on his theocratic fascism in front of his stupid supporters. Guys like Tom Dumbass…Mr. tropical 2 swirling ocean typhooncane.😂
Impeach Biden
October 10, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Better find something where you can draw a paycheck Charlie. Come November you will be looking for work.
Charlie Crist
October 10, 2022 at 3:28 pm
Open your ears slap head! I said I don’t care if I win or not as long as I can EMBARRASS, DEGRADE, DEFAME, and HUMILIATE Ron DeSantis in front of the whole world!!!!
Joseph
October 23, 2022 at 10:42 pm
Listen flippity flop Charlie you and your Democrats are the ones destroying this country you supported a president who can’t even speak who shakes hands with thin air you’re on the side of the democrats’ socialist you Democrats are nothing but many communists trying to control every day American lives like you’re so called gun control you’re so anti-American ideology it’s on the words of porky pig pa pa piss off fool you are a piece of s*** you are worst Governor ever even as a republican you are a piece of s***
D Gail Heisey
October 15, 2022 at 7:21 pm
Charlie Crist, Myself and many other Nice Citizens in Florida are thrilled too have Governor Ron DeSantis as our Governor. Family Values, standing up for our Police Officer’s- Law Enforcement, protecting our School Children from all of the radical garbage. You are a old and angry man,. I feel Sorry for You. A Happy Voter!!!
Ocean Joe
October 10, 2022 at 1:48 pm
Charlie, if you watch Desantis-Gillum debate, he wasn’t so great.
Hopefully for his sake, he has improved. Ted Cruz, despite being a colossal scumbag, is an excellent debater, as is the porcine Chris Christie (ask Marco), but Desantis, not so much.
It probably doesn’t matter, Floridians seem to like mismanagement, and tough guys who ferret out imaginary problems while ignoring the real ones.
Impeach Biden
October 10, 2022 at 2:03 pm
You say he wasn’t so great yet he still defeated the drug snorting and boy toy loving Andrew Gillum. He is very popular now and most people probably won’t watch the debate anyway as most minds have been made up. Look at Jose Biden. The guy basically hid in the basement during campaign season and he still won despite being a complete brain dead moron.
Joe Corsin
October 10, 2022 at 3:10 pm
He’s smarter than you! Especially if you voted for a NY billionaire con man. You people have forgotten that you don’t have any room to talk anymore…but you do anyway because no insight. Need a smack..
Impeach Biden
October 10, 2022 at 3:22 pm
The Joe Corsin and other aliases would still vote for the so called family man Andrew Gillum and still vote for the most incompetent President after Jimmy Carter. Who’s the dummy?🤣
Joe Corsin
October 10, 2022 at 3:32 pm
He’s better than Trump! How many frauds, sexual assaults, election crimes, con jobs, conspiracies, lies, and Espionage Act violations does it take for you pro crime sociopaths to wake up? Hell, Trump even has one RAPE!!!!!
Ocean Joe
October 16, 2022 at 6:25 pm
Hallelujah! You agree Biden won.
Since you are honest enough to admit that, go back and watch some of that debate.
Based on their performances, forget whose views you agree with. This is where that “no personality, whiner” stuff comes from fellow Republicans who are jealous of Ron.
Maybe he’s improved, but he avoids any situation where he’s challenged, sticks to friendly audiences, etc. and was not a great debater.
Charlie Crist
October 10, 2022 at 2:35 pm
Great idea OJ!!!!!
Gillum’s agreed to a meeting with you and me in a Miami hotel room so we can practice our oral skills for the upcomming debate. So are we on for our little practice session?
Charlie Crist
October 10, 2022 at 6:29 pm
👆 Trumpist pro crime sociopath… also probably terrorist supporter and definitely a racist.
Impeach Biden
October 13, 2022 at 3:48 pm
Does anybody here know how to remove a stuck light bulb from a rectal cavity? Asking for a friend.
Comments are closed.