Statewide Televised Debate Set for Florida's U.S. Senate Race
Leadership Florida, Florida Press Association To Produce “Decision 2016: Before You Vote”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Millions of Florida voters are expected to tune in to the only scheduled statewide-televised debate this fall in the general election race to fill the seat of U.S. Senate member Marco Rubio. Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association, the experienced and trusted partners in producing statewide-televised debates in the state’s last four election cycles, announced today that the U.S. Senate debate is now set for Wednesday, October 26, from 7-8 p.m. The debate will be broadcast live from Broward College Central Campus in Davie, Fla. Both major political parties’ respective nominees are expected to participate in the debate.
As previously announced, the producing television station partner will be WPBF 25, the Hearst-owned ABC affiliate based in West Palm Beach. Other broadcast partners announced today
Phil Alongi, who spent much of his storied career as Executive Producer of Specials and Politics at NBC News, has been signed to serve as Executive Producer of the U.S. Senate debate project. He will have responsibility for coordinating all elements of the project for the producing partners – with Broward College, the candidates, the producing station and broadcast partners.
Moderating the debate will be veteran WPBF 25 News anchor and multiple Emmy Award-winner Todd McDermott, with a media panel still to be named.
For more than 34 years, Leadership Florida has provided a non-partisan, nonparochial perspective about statewide topics of concern and opportunities while encouraging collaboration among the state's leadership. Visit www.leadershipflorida.org to learn more.
The Florida Press Association is a nonprofit corporation designed to protect the freedoms and advance the professional standards of the press in Florida, with a membership that includes most of Florida’s daily and weekly newspapers. Visit www.flpress.com to learn more.
Broward College is ranked as one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute. Serving more than 63,000 students annually, Broward College provides residents with certificate programs, two-year university-transfer degrees, two-year career degrees and baccalaureate degrees. The mission of the College is to provide high-quality educational programs and services that are affordable and accessible to a diverse community of learners. For more information, visit www.broward.edu.