WBTS Boston, NECN And Telemundo Boston To Host Preliminary Boston Mayoral Debate

NBCUniversal-owned WBTS Boston, Telemundo Boston and NECN, in partnership with the Dorchester Reporter and the Bay State Banner, will host, broadcast and livestream a one-hour live preliminary mayoral debate inside the NBCUniversal Boston Media Center tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.

The debate with Mayor Kim Janey and challengers John Barros, Andrea Campbell, Annissa Essaibi-George and Michelle Wu will be aired from inside a secure and closed studio inside the NBCUniversal Boston Media Center — located at 189B Street, Needham, Mass.

Telemundo Boston will air the debate in Spanish on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 11:30 p.m.

The debate will also livestream tomorrow from 7 to 8 p.m. in English on NBC10Boston.com and NECN.com and in Spanish on TelemundoNuevaInglaterra.com.

The politicians are expected to address issues important to Bostonians including public safety, COVID-19 effects on the community, and rising cost of living expenses. Questions for the candidates are being prepared by moderator and NBC10 Boston Evening News anchor, Shannon Mulaire. Viewer questions will be solicited in advance via social media as well as from readers of debate partners, the Dorchester Reporter and the Bay State Banner. Candidates do not see the questions ahead of time.

An extended post-debate roundtable show for streaming audiences will be available from 8 to 8:30 p.m. exclusively on the streaming platforms including: Roku and Apple TV channels  as well as NBC10Boston.com, NECN.com, on the NBC10 Boston app and on the station’s social sites including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. The post-debate discussion will be hosted by Sue O’Connell and Raul Martinez and will include analysis from NBC10 Boston political reporter Alison King and reaction from a panel of political experts.

Proper COVID-19 safety protocols will be enforced for the duration of the debate.

The two candidates who advance to the general election will be invited to participate in another debate this October.