SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The candidates for California governor have agreed to a debate, but only on the radio.
Republican John Cox and Democrat Gavin Newsom will square off Oct. 8 on San Francisco public radio station KQED, the station reported Monday.
It’s the only forum both candidates have agreed to after months of back and forth and will be the first time they’ve shared a platform since a pre-primary debate in San Jose in May.
The debate will be a crucial opportunity for Cox, who has trailed Newsom in polls and fundraising, to get his message out or try to trip up Newsom ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
The debate will broadcast at 10 a.m. during KQED’s public affairs show, “Forum.”
It will follow the show’s typical format without strict time limits or rules, the station reported. It will be offered to other stations around the state for live or recorded broadcast.
Cox and Newsom agreed to meet after months of back and forth over when and where to debate, with each candidate rejecting forums accepted by the other. For a while it appeared they would not debate at all.
Newsom agreed to a CNN debate but Cox sought to limit discussion to specific California-focused topics.
Cox agreed to other debates sponsored by California media outlets that Newsom rejected.
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