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The Atlantic University of Florida (FAU) will be the venue for the televised debates of the state general elections of 2026, in which voters will elect the successor to Governor Ron DeSantis and the senator who will complete the term left by Marco Rubio.
The organizers of the non-partisan series "Decision 2026: Before YOU Vote" announced on Tuesday that the debate for the U.S. Senate will take place on October 13, while the gubernatorial debate will occur on October 15. Both will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will be broadcast across the 10 television markets in Florida from the FAU campus in Boca Raton, reported Gulf Coast News.
This year's elections will mark the end of DeSantis's administration, who will leave office on January 5, 2027, as he is unable to run for a third consecutive term in accordance with the state constitution.
A closely contested race for the governorship
In the Republican ranks, Congressman Byron Donalds leads the polls with up to 46% of voter intention and has the support of President Donald Trump, who has described him as “a truly great and powerful governor.”
Donalds is competing against the Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins, the former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Paul Renner, and the businessman James Fishback. If he wins in November, he would become the first black Republican governor in the state's history.
For the Democratic Party, the main candidates are former congressman David Jolly and the mayor of Orange County, Jerry Demings.
The special election for the Senate
The Senate debate pertains to a special election to complete the remaining two years of Marco Rubio's term, who resigned from the seat in January 2025 after being appointed Secretary of State by President Trump.
After Rubio's departure, DeSantis appointed former Attorney General Ashley Moody as interim, who is now seeking to retain her position and leads the Republican polls with support between 43% and 50%.
In the Democratic camp, retired Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman stands out, known for his role during the first impeachment trial against Trump, whose campaign raised $1.7 million in its first 24 hours.
Requirements to participate
The primaries for both parties will be held on August 18, while the general election will take place on November 3, 2026.
To participate in the debates in October, candidates must achieve at least 12.5% support in a Mason-Dixon Polling survey to be conducted in September, including the margin of error of the poll.
The events will be moderated by Todd McDermott, host of WPBF, alongside a panel of two journalists. In addition to the television broadcast, Florida Public Media will air them on public radio, there will be a Spanish version, and they will be available for national rebroadcast through C-SPAN.
"An informed electorate is essential for a strong democracy, and these debates provide voters with the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about the issues that matter most to them," stated Carolyn Nolte, president and CEO of the Florida Press Association.
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