WBA Foundation announces cancelation of 2026 gubernatorial debate
WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- For the first time in 36 years, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation will not sponsor a debate between candidates for governor.
There was a WBA debate scheduled for Oct. 9. There will be a debate without the WBA Foundation's involvement on Oct. 21.
In a statement, the foundation said two invitations were sent and both invitations needed to be accepted for the Oct. 9 debate, but they weren't.
The foundation didn't say if Tom Tiffany or David Crowley, or both, did not accept the invite. While speaking to reporters on Sept. 9, Crowley said he was looking forward to the debate and agreed to it.
“I’m never looking to run away from a debate and run away from the cameras, but unfortunately my opponent is,” Crowley said.
While speaking to WISC-TV in Madison, Tiffany said he is focusing on meeting voters across the state over a second debate.
“With my experience in Congress, as well as in the state legislature, doing one debate is sufficient and we agreed to that one debate,” Tiffany said. 9 “I think there may be too much focus on whether there’s one statewide debate. We are going across the state talking to people where they’re at. I think that’s the most important thing we can do as candidates.”
In 2022, Governor Tony Evers and Tim Michels held one debate ahead of the November election. Four years earlier, Evers and Governor Scott Walker debated twice, just seven days apart.