Crist accepts three debates, including one DeSantis declined

TALLAHASSEE — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, the Democratic nominee for Florida governor, has committed to three televised debates in October, including the only one to be broadcast statewide, the Oct. 20 “Before You Vote” event that Gov. Ron DeSantis has turned down.

“I look forward to debating Ron DeSantis and holding him accountable for his extremist, anti-choice, billionaire donor agenda,” Crist said in a news release Monday. “If Ron DeSantis wants to take away more of our freedoms and rights, the least he can do is show up and tell Florida voters why.”

So far, the only one they’ve both agreed to is the Oct. 12 debate hosted by WPEC CBS 12, which is owned and operated by the conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group known for its support of Donald Trump and requiring anchors to warn about “fake news.”

The third debate Crist has agreed to would be hosted by the Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times and Spectrum News. It would be held at Polk State College in Winter Haven, but no date has yet been set.

Organizers of the “Before You Vote” event said they were told that DeSantis and the campaign are firm on their decision to not participate. The DeSantis campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

However, organizers said Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and challenger U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Orlando, have committed to an Oct. 18 debate on the same statewide format. It will be simultaneously broadcast over stations in Florida’s 10 major media markets, including Orlando.

“Before You Vote” is sponsored by the conservative James Madison Institute think tank, the Florida Board of Realtors, which recently endorsed DeSantis, the Everglades Foundation, whose co-founder Paul Tudor Jones has contributed to the governor’s campaign, AARP Florida, Florida Trend Magazine and the Florida Press Association.

DeSantis participated in the 2018 gubernatorial debate when he was a congressman running against Democratic nominee and former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum.

Crist, who had been criticized by Nikki Fried for avoiding several debate opportunities with her during the primary, has blasted DeSantis for ducking the bigger of the two televised debates, saying that “you can’t play dress up like a fighter pilot and then chicken out of debates.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Everglades Foundation contributed to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ reelection campaign. The organization’s co-founder, Paul Tudor Jones, made that donation.

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