Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth will face each other in the final televised debate of Minnesota’s governor’s race on Wednesday evening, less than two weeks before voters go to the polls.
The one-hour Minnesota governor debate will be broadcast live from the KTTC/KXLT studios in Rochester at 7pm local time, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm and post-debate analysis to follow.
The event is being produced jointly by FOX 9 and Gray Media stations serving Rochester, Duluth, Mankato and Fargo-Moorhead. It is expected to be the only live televised debate to reach viewers across every television market in Minnesota.
Minnesota governor debate to focus on statewide issues
Questions will come from a panel representing the participating stations, with discussion expected to centre on issues affecting the state as a whole as well as regional concerns.
The debate is likely to give voters one of the last opportunities to compare the candidates directly before the general election on 3 November. The pair also appeared at a business forum in Brainerd on Monday, where they clashed over fraud in state programmes, economic policy and the role of government in approving data centres.
Demuth, the Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House, has presented herself as a candidate for change after eight years of Democratic leadership. Klobuchar, the Democratic US senator, has emphasised her experience in public office and her record of visiting communities across the state.
The contest is being held to replace Democratic Governor Tim Walz, who is not seeking a third term. It is Minnesota’s first open governor’s race since 2018.
Victory for either candidate would also make history. Klobuchar would become Minnesota’s first woman governor, while Demuth would be the state’s first woman governor and its first Black governor.
The debate will be available on participating television stations and through their streaming services, including FOX 9’s online platforms and YouTube channel.
