Washington governor’s debate will follow Monday’s presidential debate

While most of the nation is gearing up for the first presidential debate, Washington voters will have a debate doubleheader on Monday night.

It’s the first of four debates on top Washington contests. There will be two in the governor’s race, with the first airing right after the initial presidential matchup, and two in the U.S. Senate race.

The first Senate debate will be at Gonzaga University on Oct. 16.

The debates are being arranged by the Washington State Debate Coalition, which has gathered together a long list of news, civic and educational entities, which provided some heft when negotiating with candidates. The Spokesman-Review is a coalition member.

Incumbent Jay Inslee and Republican challenger Bill Bryant debate at 8 p.m. Sept. 26. They’ll be at Seattle University with three Seattle television reporters as moderators.

Incumbent Sen. Patty Murray will debate her Republican challenger Chris Vance at GU at 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 with three local television reporters – Mark Hanrahan, Nadine Woodward and Kristi Gorenson – as well as Gonzaga Student Body Association President Caleb Dawson. Members of the public can submit questions that panelists can consider through a page on the debate coalition’s website.

Free tickets for the Gonzaga debate, which will take place in the John J. Hemmingson Center Ballroom, are available here.

The second gubernatorial debate is set for 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Columbia Basin Community College in the Tri-Cities and the second Senate debate is 7 p.m. Oct. 23 on the Microsoft campus in Renton.

The debates are expected to be covered live on television stations throughout the state, or on tape delay if they conflict with other programming. NBC affiliates may show the Oct. 23 debate on a delayed basis because the Seahawks are the Sunday evening game that day.