U.S. Senate candidates, Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican J.D. Vance, have agreed to participate in two televised debates next month, including one in Youngstown.

The first is planned for Oct. 10 in Cleveland. The second is set for Oct. 17 at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

The Oct. 10 debate, sponsored by WJW / Nexstar Media Group, would be televised across Ohio. The second debate, sponsored by 21 WFMJ-TV, would be televised locally.

The two campaigns have not agreed on a third debate in southwestern Ohio.

Ryan’s campaign previously had agreed to an Oct. 4 debate at Miami University’s Hamilton Campus. It would have been hosted by Cincinnati television station WLWT, but Vance’s camp has told the station the debate cannot happen.

“We have reiterated in multiple conversations with WLWT that an Oct. 4 debate in Hamilton is not logistically possible,” said Luke Schroeder, press secretary for Vance’s campaign.

On Aug. 26, Ryan’s campaign agreed to dates for three debates to be held in Youngstown, Hamilton and Akron. Later that day, Vance’s campaign had countered with dates for debates in Cleveland and a WLWT debate at a date to be determined.

The debate issue comes as recent polls show a statistical dead heat between the two candidates, much like previous polls on the race to succeed outgoing Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

A recent Marist College poll shows Vance ahead of Ryan 46 percent to 45 percent among registered voters with a 3.6 percent margin of error in a poll. The poll of 1,200 registered voters also has Vance ahead 48-47 among voters who say they definitely plan to vote.

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