Sen. Mark Warner, challenger Daniel Gade to debate at NSU
Norfolk State University announced Monday that it will host a live U.S. senatorial debate between Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Republican challenger Daniel Gade.
The Oct. 3 debate at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center will focus on racial disparities and inequities in education, health care, economic mobility and the criminal justice system.
“Norfolk State University is the appropriate venue to have a debate about these topics,” University President Javaune Adams-Gaston said in a news release. “Our institution serves an important mission in the Commonwealth of Virginia and it is fitting that we will serve as host during this crucial moment in our nation.”
It will be the first time Norfolk State University has hosted a live U.S. senatorial debate on its campus.
The 90-minute debate moderated by WAVY-TV 10 journalists Anita Blanton and Regina Mobley is invite-only and will be closed to the public because of the coronavirus
pandemic, the school said in a news release.
The debate will stream live at 5 p.m. Oct. 3 on WAVY.com and on WAVYTV 10’s Facebook Live channel. It will also be available on the university’s radio station, WNSBFM 91.1. The recorded debate will air at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 on WAVY-TV 10.
“I look forward to Sen. Warner and Dr. Gade visiting our campus to interact with our outstanding faculty and students. This will be a wonderful educational opportunity for the Spartan community to learn about each candidate as they prepare to exercise their most important civic duty — the right to vote,” Adams-Gaston said.
The debate, which NSU is co-hosting with WAVYTV-10, Nexstar Media Group station, the Virginia Bar Association and Visit Norfolk, will be the second in a series of three. The first debate hosted by the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and NBC4 Washington is scheduled for Sept. 23. The third debate is slated for Oct. 13 in Richmond.