SEATTLE — KING 5, along with a coalition of media partners has announced plans to broadcast a Washington state gubernatorial debate on September 10.
The Seattle NBC affiliate is partnering with The Seattle Times, KREM 2, and El Sol de Yakima for the debate between candidates Bob Ferguson and Dave Reichert. It will broadcast at 8 p.m. PT, immediately following the presidential debate.
A panel of journalists, including Jim Brunner of The Seattle Times, Mark Hanrahan of KREM 2 News, and Gloria Ibañez of El Sol de Yakima, will ask questions about the top statewide issues during the hour-long broadcast. KING 5 News anchor Joyce Taylor will serve as the moderator.
In addition to an opening and closing statement, Ferguson and Reichert will have an opportunity answer a primary topic question for 1:15, followed by a discussion period during which answers will be limited to 45-seconds. The discourse is aimed at providing context and clarity with public service in mind.
“This debate not only aligns with our station’s promise of political coverage in 2024, but is also crucial for the preservation of democracy," said Christy Moreno, KING 5 president and general manager. "We are committed to using our platform as a tool for transparency- offering open and honest dialogue that anyone can access.”
The debate will aim to dive into voters' top issues and inform the public as the general election in November approaches. It will be available broadcast and streamed statewide by all of the media partners. That includes on KING 5 and be available to stream through KING 5+, including on KING5.com and streaming apps on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
"Washington voters have a big decision to make and before they do, they deserve a chance to hear the candidates answer direct questions from reporters," said Michele Matassa Flores, executive editor of The Seattle Times. "We are proud to collaborate with our partners to put on a substantive debate that will delve into the major challenges and opportunities facing our state.”
Ferguson and Reichert were the top two vote getters in Washington's Primary Election in August, advancing to face off in November. Ferguson received 45% of the vote (more than 884,000 votes) and Reichert tallied 28% (over 541,000 votes).
Ferguson, the current state attorney general, was first elected to the position in 2012. He also previously served on the King County Council.
Reichert, a former U.S. representative and King County sheriff, served with the sheriff's office for 33 years before being elected to Washington's 8th Congressional District in 2004. He left Congress in 2019.