The WBA Foundation Board will continue its 36-year tradition of holding statewide televised debates for Wisconsin’s voters by airing a general election debate in the 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial race.
Qualifying gubernatorial candidates will be invited to participate in a debate on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., hosted by Milwaukee PBS. Radio and television stations from across Wisconsin will participate in the production of the debate. Details including panelists and format will be announced later.
The hour-long debate will be made available to radio and television stations throughout Wisconsin for live or delayed broadcast.
“The WBA Foundation is honored to provide this important service to Wisconsin’s voters as part of our long history of using our debates to promote the civic and political process.” WBAF President and CEO Michelle Vetterkind said.
The debate will be moderated by veteran television debate moderator and WBA Hall of Fame inductee Jill Geisler. Geisler is Clinical Professor of Journalism, Leadership and Ethics at Loyola University Chicago. She’s from Wisconsin and was one of the first female news directors of a major market affiliate when she was news director at WITI-TV in Milwaukee. She moderated the WBAF debates in 2014, 2016, 2018, 2022, and 2024.
The WBA encourages its members to inform the public by airing this debate and their own programming to help educate voters ahead of the election.
The WBA Foundation debate is sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association.
The WBA is a non-partisan statewide trade association representing radio and television broadcasters across the state.
Questions or inquiries about the debates should be directed to debate@wbafoundation.org.
