Stacker compiled voter demographics for each state and Washington, D.C., using the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (released in September 2020).
After peppery exchanges in recent weeks about the prospect of meeting in a debate, incumbent Gov. Greg Gianforte and Democratic challenger Ryan Busse are set to square off in mid-October for one forum.
Both men agreed to a debate hosted by NonStop Local, a network of ABC-FOX stations, to be held Oct. 16. It will be hosted by anchor Bradley Warren and longtime political reporter Mike Dennison, who retired in 2022 after decades in journalism and provides analysis on a weekly program with Warren.
Gianforte declined to participate in two debates that traditionally feature the candidates seeking to occupy the governor's office -- one hosted by the Montana Television Network and the other put on by Montana Television Network, Montana PBS, Lee Newspapers, Yellowstone Public Radio and Montana Public Radio. Busse accepted both of those invitations.
Paul Bergen, executive news director for NonStop Local, confirmed the debate Monday. More details on the format and broadcast plans were not available.
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The news comes after a previous dispute between Gianforte and Busse, in which the incumbent tried to deem his challenger as not being a credible opponent as the reason for not agreeing to debates. Busse countered by pointing out he had outraised Republican Gianforte in the most recent campaign finance reporting period. Gianforte then responded that he'd debate Busse if the Democrat released his income tax returns, as Gianforte already had to the Associated Press but Busse had declined to do. But then Busse provided several years of documents to the news outlet.
Then on Monday in dueling press releases, Busse campaign called out Gianforte for not agreeing to the Montana Television Network and Montana PBS debates. Shortly after Busse's campaign sent its press release, Gianforte's responded with one of its own, saying the governor would take part in a debate hosted by NonStop Local.
Montana PBS and MTN have regularly hosted debates in past cycles.
"We are very disappointed in this decision. MTN has held candidate debates every election cycle for at least the last 30 years and up until this year all major party candidates have eagerly participated," said Keagan Harsha, MTN statewide news director, in an emailed statement Monday.
John Twiggs, the director of public affairs for Montana PBS, said "While other types of reporting can be illuminating for the race, this is the only format where the candidates are in the same room at the same time. Our viewers look forward to that and will be disappointed that tradition on Montana PBS does not happen this year for the governor's race."
County elections offices start mailing absentee ballots to voters Oct. 11.
Holly Michels is the head of the Montana State News Bureau. You can reach her at [email protected]
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