GREEN BAY, Wis. — Rick Crosson, Democratic nominee for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, confirmed today that he will debate incumbent Rep. Tony Wied on WFRV on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The one-hour debate will be moderated by WFRV’s Tom Zalaski and Stacy Engebretson.

The debate will be recorded live to tape between 1:30 and 2:30 PM Central and will air live on WFRV’s streaming channel, WFRV+, during that window. It will then air in primetime on WFRV from 7:00 to 8:00 PM Central that same evening. The debate will re-air on WFRV as Newsmaker Sunday on Sunday, October 25, from 6:30 to 7:30 AM Central.

Neither candidate will receive questions in advance. Both candidates have agreed to those terms.

While Crosson’s preference is to have a live audience in the room, it is more important to see this debate happen.  “Voters in this district deserve to see their choices side by side, answering the same questions, in the same room, at the same time,” Crosson said. “I am grateful to WFRV, to Tom Zalaski and Stacy Engebretson, and to everyone at the station for giving the 8th District this opportunity. I have spent this campaign showing up in every county, at town halls, at meet and greets, at kitchen tables, and at diners. This debate is one more place to show up, and I look forward to it.”

Crosson has committed throughout the campaign to in-person engagement across all corners of WI-08. Rep. Wied has not held an in-person town hall in the district since taking office in November 2024. The October 22 debate will be the first, and likely only, opportunity voters have to see the two candidates answer the same questions in the same forum.

“The people of the 8th District have real questions about affordability, healthcare, agriculture, veterans’ services, the farm economy, and what their representative is doing to help them in Washington. Voters can judge for themselves which candidate will work on their behalf to bring relief and support to their everyday lives,” Crosson said.

HOW TO WATCH:

  • Live stream: WFRV+, Thursday, October 22, 1:30 to 2:30 PM Central
  • Primetime broadcast: WFRV, Thursday, October 22, 7:00 to 8:00 PM Central
  • Encore broadcast: WFRV as Newsmaker Sunday, Sunday, October 25, 6:30 to 7:30 AM Central

Early in-person voting begins on October 20th, while absentee voting by mail is underway across Wisconsin. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voters can confirm their polling place, check their registration, and find early voting information at MyVote.wi.gov.

Rick Crosson is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 20 years of service and the Democratic nominee for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. He comes from a multi-generational military family. More information is available at RickCrosson.com.