WBA Foundation: Announces date for U.S. Senate debate

Madison, Wis. – The WBA Foundation Board will continue its 34-year tradition of holding statewide televised debates for Wisconsin’s voters by airing a general election debate in the 2024 Wisconsin U.S. Senate race.

Qualifying U.S. Senate candidates Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde have been invited and have agreed to participate in a debate on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m., hosted by WMTV-TV in Madison. Radio and television stations from across Wisconsin will participate in the production of the debate. Details including panelists and format will be announced later.

The hour-long debate will be made available to radio and television stations throughout Wisconsin for live or delayed broadcast.

“The WBA Foundation is honored to provide this important debate to Wisconsin’s voters as part of our long history of using our debates to promote the civic and political process.” WBAF President and CEO Michelle Vetterkind said.

The debate will be moderated by veteran television debate moderator and WBA Hall of Fame inductee Jill Geisler. Geisler holds the Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity at Loyola University Chicago. She’s from Wisconsin and was one of the first female news directors of a major market affiliate when she was news director at WITI-TV in Milwaukee. She moderated the WBAF debates in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2022.

“I’m looking forward to the Wisconsin Broadcasters’ Association debate this fall so voters across the state can learn more about the work we’re doing together and the choice they have in this race,” Baldwin said.

“I look forward to debating Sen. Baldwin and sharing my vision for addressing the critical challenges facing the people of Wisconsin,” Hovde said. “Voters deserve transparency, and I appreciate WBA for organizing this debate, providing every Wisconsinite across the state the opportunity to hear my solutions to restore the American Dream.”

The WBA encourages its members to inform the public by airing this debate and their own programming to help educate voters ahead of the election.

The WBA Foundation debate is sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.

The WBA is a non-partisan statewide trade association representing radio and television broadcasters across the state.

Questions or inquiries about the debates should be directed to debate@wbafoundation.org.