First gubernatorial debate set

Ron DeSantis and Andrew Gillum are set to face off for a Spanish language debate in Orlando this month.

Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis will meet for a Spanish language debate in Orlando, one of only two scheduled debates so far between the two candidates for governor.

The debate, scheduled for Oct. 16 at The Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center, will be hosted by Orlando station Telemundo 31.

It will be taped at noon and broadcast at 7 p.m. on Telemundo 31 and three other Telemundo stations in South Florida, Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. It will also be streamed on Telemundo websites and mobile apps.

Anchor Carlos Rausseo and reporter Marilys Llanos will serve as moderators.

The event is the same day as the second and last scheduled U.S. Senate debate between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott, to held in Tampa and hosted by CNN.

The other gubernatorial debate is set for Oct. 24 at Broward College, hosted by the nonprofit group Leadership Florida.

The two campaigns have been sparring over other potential debates, with a Univision Miami event accepted by Gillum and a CBS Miami debate and Fox News event accepted by DeSantis.

A planned CNN event in Tampa, which both candidates seemed to have agreed to last month, appears to be held up over whether it would be a town hall or debate format, the Gillum campaign said.