By Paul Greeley
817-578-6324, Paul@NewsBlues.com

Local TV stations across the country make critical contributions to their markets and their state by broadcasting live debates between candidates before elections.

For example, on Friday, October 3rd at 8 p.m., KING, Tegna’s NBC in Seattle, along with media partner The Seattle Times, will broadcast a live Seattle mayoral debate between Mayor Bruce Harrell and mayoral candidate Katie Wilson.

“Seattle residents deserve accountability from those seeking to serve our community,” says Christy Moreno, KING’s GM. “By partnering with The Seattle Times, we’re ensuring voters have access to substantive dialogue on the critical issues shaping our city’s future.”

The debate will feature opening statements, structured questions with 90-second responses from each candidate, followed by 45-second rebuttals.

The discourse is aimed at providing context and clarity with public service in mind. Both candidates will have closing statements to conclude the hour-long debate.

“This election comes at a consequential time for the city,” says Michele Matassa Flores, executive editor of The Seattle Times.

“We face a crisis of affordability, questions about public safety in certain neighborhoods, and other persistent problems. Our journalists will press the candidates for clear, detailed answers on the most important topics.”

And in Virginia, Nexstar’s TV stations in the state will air a live multi-market telecast of the only debate between the candidates for Virginia Governor at 7 p.m. on October 9, 2025.

The debate between the Republican and Democratic Party candidates for Virginia Governor, Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger presents Virginians with a crucial opportunity to hear directly from them regarding the issues most important to both the Commonwealth and the nation.

The event is being carried exclusively by all of Nexstar’s local television stations and digital platforms serving the Commonwealth, underscoring the company’s commitment to providing comprehensive and accessible political coverage to voters across Virginia.

“We are grateful to our media partner, WAVY-TV 10 and Nexstar, our community sponsor, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. – Virginia Social Action, and our collective work to bring Virginia’s only gubernatorial debate to Norfolk State University,” says Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, President of Norfolk State University, where the debate is being held. “This is the third statewide debate we have hosted since 2020, and I am glad the university can serve as a forum where voters can learn more about the candidates.”

The broadcast will be hosted by WAVY-TV 10 in Portsmouth and air on six other Nexstar television stations and digital platforms serving the Commonwealth, including WRIC-TV in Richmond, WFXR-TV in Roanoke, WDVM-TV/WDCW-TV in Washington, D.C., and WJHL-TV and EJHL-TV in Tri-Cities, TN.

The debate will be moderated by news anchors Tom Schaad of WAVY-TV 10 and Deanna Allbrittin of WRIC-TV in Richmond, and reach a potential audience of four million viewers.

Carol Ward, Vice President and General Manager of WAVY-TV 10 underscored the importance of the event, saying: “As ‘Your Local Election Headquarters,’ WAVY-TV 10 is dedicated to providing thorough and impartial coverage of the issues that are most critical to the citizens of Virginia. In partnership with Nexstar stations across the Commonwealth and surrounding area and with Norfolk State University, we are honored to serve as a forum for this gubernatorial debate and to help ensure that voters have the information necessary to make well-informed decisions at the ballot box.”

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