Cooper, Forest to debate Oct. 14

So far it's the only debate both campaigns have accepted.

Posted 9:24 p.m. Aug 25, 2020 — Updated 9:33 p.m. Aug 25, 2020

Travis Fain

, WRAL statehouse reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest will face off Oct. 14 in what, so far, is their only scheduled debate of the 2020 governor's race.

Both campaigns said Tuesday that they had accepted the debate, organized by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters. The Forest campaign said it has also accepted two others that the Cooper campaign has not and that they'll keep pushing for debates on WNCN and Spectrum News.

"NC’ians deserve a chance to see their leaders debate publicly," the lieutenant governor said on his Twitter account.

In response to questions about the other two debates, Cooper spokeswoman Liz Doherty said in an email that the broadcasters association has "traditionally been an agreed-upon host for statewide races because they reach every market, usually every station, including radio."

WRAL News also offered to host a debate, but the Forest campaign declined.

Details of the Oct. 14 debate aren't yet set. It likely will not include the other two candidates in the race, Libertarian Steven DiFiore and Constitution Party candidate Al Pisano.

NCAB rules require candidates to poll above 10 percent to participate.

Cooper was the first to accept the NCAB debate. The Forest campaign told WRAL News early Tuesday that it was still considering the event, and the campaign accepted later in the day.

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