Debates!
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
This week kicks off debate season for the 2014 general election.
U.S. Senate candidates Al Franken and Mike McFadden are scheduled to debate the issues on Wednesday in Duluth. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, Republican Jeff Johnson and Independence Party candidate Hannah Nicollet will hold a debate on that same day in Rochester.
MPR News is also preparing to interview many of the candidates in studio and hold forums on many of the races listed below. Those events will be announced once they've been confirmed.
Note: Debate negotiations are still underway so this list will be updated.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Here’s a list of the major debates on the schedule.
U.S. Senate
DFLer Al Franken vs. Republican Mike McFadden
Oct. 1, 8am. Duluth News Tribune/Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, 8am, Duluth Play House
Oct. 26: WCCO TV studios
Nov. 2: Minnesota Public Radio News, 7pm Fitzgerald Theater in St. paul
Governor
DFLer Mark Dayton, Republican Jeff Johnson and Independence Party candidate Hannah Nicollet (Note: Nicollet has not been invited to every debate)
Oct. 1, 7-8pm Coalition of Greater MN Cities/Rochester Post-Bulletin/Rochester Chamber of Commerce Debate. Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN
Oct. 8, 7-8:30pm, Forum News Services, WDAY-TV debate, Minnesota State University Moorhead Hansen Theater
Oct. 14, 8am Duluth News Tribune, Duluth Chamber of Commerce debate, Duluth Playhouse Inc., Duluth, MN
Oct. 19, 9-10am, KMSP/FOX 9, Hamline University debate, Klas Center, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN
Oct. 31, 7-8pm, Almanac Debate, TPT Studios, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Secretary of State
DFLer Steve Simon, Republican Dan Severson, Independence Party candidate Bob Helland and Libertarian Candidate Bob Odden
Oct. 28, 7-8:30pm, League of Women Voters debate, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN
Attorney General
DFLer Lori Swanson, Republican Scott Newman, Independence Party candidate Brandan Borgos and Green Party candidate Andy Dawkins
No debates scheduled
Auditor
DFLer Rebecca Otto, Republican Randy Gilbert and Independence Party candidate Pat Dean
No debates scheduled
1st Congressional District
DFL Rep. Tim Walz vs. Republican Jim Hagedorn
Oct. 7, 7-8pm, KAAL, League of Women Voters, Rochester Post Bulletin, Rochester Chamber of Commerce and the Rochester Public Library, Rochester Century High School, Rochester, MN
Oct. 15, 7-8:30pm, Greater Mankato Growth and the Mankato Free Press, South Central College, North Mankato, MN 56003
2nd Congressional District
GOP Rep. John Kline vs. DFLer Mike Obermueller and IP candidate Paula Overby
Nov. 2, KSTP-TV At Issue, KSTP-TV studios, St. Paul, MN
3rd Congressional District
GOP Rep. Erik Paulsen vs. Democrat Sharon Sund
No debates scheduled
4th Congressional District
DFL Rep. Betty McCollum vs. Republican Sharna Wahlgren
Oct. 20, 7-8pm, Stillwater Gazette Fourth Congressional District candidates' forum, Stillwater City Hall, Stillwater, MN
Oct. 22, 7-8pm, League of Women Voters of St. Paul CD4 candidate forum, Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Parkway North, St. Paul, MN
5th Congressional District
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison vs. Republican Doug Daggett.
No debates scheduled
6th Congressional District
Republican Tom Emmer vs. Democrat Joe Perske
Oct. 11, 10am Elk River Chamber of Commerce Debate, Elk River City Hall, Elk River, MN.
7th Congressional District
DFL Rep. Collin Peterson vs. GOP state Rep. Torrey Westrom
Oct. 22, Prairie Public TV, Fargo, ND
Oct. 23, Pioneer Public TV, Appleton, MN
8th Congressional District
DFL Rep. Rick Nolan, Republican Stewart Mills and Green Party candidate Ray Sandman.
10/7, 8am, Duluth News Tribune/Duluth Chamber of Commerce Debate, Duluth Playhouse, 506 W. Michigan St., Duluth, MN