MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Three of the four leading candidates for Tennessee governor will appear in a livestreamed forum on Oct. 27 hosted by the Tennessee Press Association at Middle Tennessee State University.
Democratic nominee Jerri Green and independent candidates David Hatley and Lauren Pinkston have confirmed. Republican nominee U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn was invited and has not confirmed, according to the press association. Separate reporting Monday said Blackburn has declined to debate her opponents.
The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time, which is 8 p.m. Eastern, in a studio setting. It will not be open for in-person attendance. A student-led video team in MTSU Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment will produce the stream, and Tennessee Press Association member newspapers plan to carry it statewide.
Press association President Dave Gould said in a release that members of the press have a duty to inform Tennesseans about government and elections, and that this is the first time in eight years voters will elect a new governor. The association said the forum is nonpartisan and not tied to any campaign.
The press association said the independents were included because they are running statewide campaigns with professional staff. Green had earlier criticized putting independents on the stage without polling or fundraising thresholds. Hatley has offered to donate $1 million to charity if Blackburn debates him and Green.
The Tennessee Press Association represents more than 130 print and digital news outlets across the state. Early voting runs Oct. 14 through Oct. 29, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
