Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District debate to be live streamed
Governor Evers has ordered a special election in the Wisconsin 7th Congressional District to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Representative Duffy. Republican Tom Tiffany, Minocqua, and Democrat Tricia Zunker, Wausau are the candidates for the election to be held on Tuesday, May 12.
To educate the voters in the district, the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce and Wisconsin Public Radio have partnered to offer a live stream debate between the candidates at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 4. The debate will be co-moderated by Shereen Siewert, host of WPR’s Wausau-based regional news and talk show ‘Route 51,’ and Robin Washington, host of WPR’s Superior-based regional issues show ‘Simply Superior.’ Those interested in viewing the debate should register in advance at tinyurl.com/20207thdebate. The virtual platform will give participants the opportunity to engage in real-time moderated chat as they watch the debate. The chat feature will also allow people to pose questions to the candidates that may be used in the debate.
The debate will also be broadcast live on 90.9 and 101.3/Wausau, 89.1/Adams-Wisconsin Rapids, 100.9/ Marshfield, 99.1/Stevens Point, AM 930/Auburndale, 90.3/Park Falls, 89.9/Rhinelander-Eagle River. The debate will be re-broadcast at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network and 7 p.m. on 90.9/Wausau on May 8.
“In a time of national crisis, as our country fights a collective war against COVID-19, it is more important than ever to maintain and support our democratic institutions,” said Dave Eckmann, president and CEO of the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce. “The 7th Congressional District, having been without an elected representative in the U.S. House of Representatives at this critical time, needs to be represented. This debate will provide citizens with the opportunity to learn about the candidates.”
The winner of the special election will serve from May 2020 to January 2021. To remain in office, he or she would need to win a partisan primary on August 11, 2020, and the district’s regular election on November 3, 2020.
“Our coverage of the 7th Congressional District refl ects our commitment to providing voters the opportunity to hear directly from both candidates on issues facing the district,” said Rick Reyer, Wisconsin Public Radio’s central regional manager. “Considering the nature of our current physical-distancing environment, we want to make the debate available to as many as possible. We are grateful to the Chamber for their partnership.”
Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn counties. It also includes portions of Chippewa, Jackson, Juneau, Monroe and Wood counties.
