U.S. Senate candidates Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego, the Arizonans facing each other in one of the most-watched races in the nation, have agreed to a televised debate.

The match-up, hosted by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission and the Arizona Media Association, is set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 9.

A longtime Phoenix news anchor, Lake rode a MAGA wave in her political debut as the GOP nominee for governor in 2022 but lost that race to Democrat Katie Hobbs by 17,117 votes, or less than a percentage point. Lake launched multiple lawsuits to overturn the results but lost repeatedly in court.

U.S. Rep. Gallego is a Marine veteran and former state lawmaker who was first elected to Congress in 2014. As he began to make plans to challenge Sen. Kyrsten Sinema in this year’s Democratic primary, Sinema first changed her registration to independent and then, earlier this year, announced she would not seek reelection.

Most polls have shown Gallego leading the race. The RealClearPolitics.com average of surveys shows Gallego leading by 6.7 percentage points.

Earlier this year, Lake refused to meet with her primary opponent, Mark Lamb, in a televised Clean Elections/AMA debate. Lake won 55 percent of the vote in the Republican primary against Lamb’s 40 percent.

2nd debate confirmed between Ciscomani, Engel in CD6

Clean Elections and the Arizona Media Association will also be hosting a televised debate between Southern Arizona U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his Democratic challenger, Kirsten Engel.

Ciscomani is seeking a second term in Congressional District 6, which includes precincts in Pima, Pinal, Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties. The district leans Republican, with 36 percent of voters identifying with the GOP, 31 percent identifying as Democrats and 33 percent who aren’t aligned with either major party. Engel lost Ciscomani by less than 2 percentage points, or 5,232 votes, in 2022.

The announcement comes on the heels of a previously announced CD 6 debate with Arizona PBS, which will air next week on Thursday, Aug. 29.

Upcoming debates & other political events

Thursday, Aug. 29: The five candidates — incumbents Ravi Shah, Sadie Shaw and Natalie Luna Rose and challengers Pilar Acosta Ruiz and Esteban Flores — who are running for three seats on Tucson Unified School District Board are invited to discuss their campaigns. Sponsored by League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson. 5:30 to 7 p.m., YWCA Southern Arizona, 525 N. Bonita Ave.

Saturday, Aug. 31: Candidates for Pima County Board of Supervisors in Districts 1 and 3 are meeting in a forum. In District 1, Democratic Supervisor Rex Scott is facing a rematch against Republican Steve Spain, who lost to Scott by just 730 votes in this swing district that includes precincts in Oro Valley, the Casas Adobes area and the Catalina Foothills. In the race for an open seat in District 3, Democrat Jen Allen is facing Republican Janet Wittenbraker. Sponsored by League of Women Voters. 10:30 a.m. to noon at Pima Community College’s Amethyst Room, 1255 N. Stone Ave.

Tuesday, Sept 3: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democratic seeking a full second term, is scheduled to face his Republican challenger, Heather Lappin. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via Zoom and moderated by Tucson Sentinel reporter Jim Nintzel.

Tuesday, Sept. 3: Three Democrats – Joshua Polacheck, Jonathon Hill and Ylenia  Aguilar – will face the three Republicans – Lea Marquez Peterson, Rachel Walden and Rene Lopez —running for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which is in the midst of determining what kind of subsidies are appropriate for clean energy along with other utility regulation.

Thursday, Sept 5: Legislative District 23 incumbent Sen. Brian Fernandez faces Republican challenger Michelle Altherr for the Senate seat and the Democratic slate of incumbent Rep. Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales face incumbent Republican Rep. Michele Peña for two House seats in this Southwestern Arizona district. All candidates except for Peña have agreed to attend. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Tuesday, Sept. 17: District 2 Supervisor Matt Heinz, a Democrat seeking a second term, is scheduled to face Republican John Backer in this Democratic-leaning district that includes Tucson’s downtown and South Side and stretches to the Sahuarita area. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters. 5:30 p.m. Eckstrom-Columbus Library, 4350 E. 22nd St.

Thursday, Sept 19: Candidates for House and Senate seats in Legislative District 17, which includes precincts in the Saddlebrooke, Marana, Oro Valley, eastside Tucson and Vail, are invited to meet in a forum. Republican Vince Leach, fresh from dispatching incumbent Sen. Justine Wadsack in the GOP primary, is facing Democrat John McLean in the race for an open Senate seat, while in the House race, incumbent Republicans Reps. Cory McGarr and Rachel Jones are facing Democrat Kevin Volk. Only McLean and Volk have confirmed their participation. Democrats are hoping for upset victories in this heavily Republican district. Sponsored by Clean Elections. 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Monday, Oct. 7: Last day to register to vote for general election

Wednesday, Oct. 9: Pima County mails early ballots to voters

Friday, Oct. 25: Deadline to request an early ballot from the Pima County Recorder’s Office

Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day: Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for in-person voting and ballot drop-offs.