Nexstar’s Local Television Stations To Host and Air 41 Live Candidate Debates Prior to Midterm Elections

September 29, 2026

17 Fall Election Events to Follow 24 Debates Held During Primaries

Hotly Contested Races for Senate, U.S. House, and Governor Featured in Events Across 30 States

Nexstar’s Broad Local Television Platform Connects Candidates and Voters

IRVING, TX—Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), today announced that its local television stations across 12 states would host and broadcast 17 live candidate debates in the weeks leading up to the midterm elections on November 3. The debates will feature candidates in hotly contested races for the office of United States Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor. In many cases, the debates will be the only chance for voters to see the candidates discussing the issues face-to-face.

The debates will take place in states coast-to-coast, including battleground races for U.S. Senate in Michigan and Iowa, and Gubernatorial races in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Four important debates are scheduled for early October.

In Michigan, where one of the country’s most-watched U.S. Senate races is taking place, Republican Party nominee Mike Rogers and Democratic Party nominee Abdul El-Sayed, will take place on Thursday, October 8, from 7 to 8 p.m. ET, and originate from the studios of Nexstar-owned WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.
In the race for U.S. Senator from Iowa, Democratic nominee Iowa State Representative Josh Turek will face off in a debate against Republican nominee U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson on Tuesday, October 13, from 9 CT to 10 p.m. CT. The debate will be hosted by Nexstar’s local station in Des Moines, WHO 13.
In Missouri, WDAF-TV, Nexstar’s local station serving Kansas City and the surrounding area, will host a debate between the candidates seeking to become the state’s U.S. Senator, incumbent Republican Roger Marshall and Democrat Reverend Adam Hamilton. The debate will take place on Wednesday, October 21, from 7 to 8 p.m. CT and be moderated by WDAF-TV news anchor John Holt.
In the Pennsylvania Governor’s race, Nexstar’s WHTM-TV in Harrisburg, will host and televise a debate between Democratic nominee and incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger State Treasurer Stacy Garrity on Monday, October 7, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET.

“The unique reach of our local stations enables Nexstar to provide these types of forums across the states and local communities we serve,” said Andrew Alford, President of Nexstar’s broadcasting division. “Our ability to give competing candidates the opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of voters across an entire state in a single broadcast, while giving voters in hundreds of local communities the chance to assess the candidates as they debate the issues head-to-head, is a public service and central to Nexstar’s core mission. We are pleased to present these debates and committed to doing even more of them as the midterm election draws closer.”

During the primary season this spring and summer, Nexstar television stations hosted and aired 24 candidate debates and forums in 18 different states. More information about Nexstar’s televised debates can be found on the company’s website at www.nexstar.tv.

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About Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) is a leading diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. For more information, please visit nexstar.tv.

Media Contact
Gary Weitman
EVP and Chief Communications Officer
Nexstar Media Group, Inc.
(972) 373-8800 or gweitman@nexstar.tv

Investor Contact
Joseph Jaffoni or Jennifer Neuman
JCIR
212/835-8500 or nxst@jcir.com