Candidates for top statewide offices like governor, U.S. Senate and attorney general have spent a good part of the last month challenging one another to broadcast debates in an election season that has seen few face-to-face meetings so far.

That mutual goading has now resulted in a handful of scheduled debates in the race for top offices, the first of which is slated to take place at noon Friday on Minnesota Public Radio between Democratic-Farmer-Labor Attorney General Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Ron Schutz.

Viewers can tune in on the radio or on MPR’s website. The debate is hosted by MPR politics editor Brian Bakst on the program “Politics Friday.”

Republicans, including Schutz, gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth and U.S. Senate candidate Michele Tafoya, have said they plan to appear on KSTP-TV on Friday for a primetime interview after no DFLers committed to a debate.

The Republican governor, Senate and attorney general candidates are scheduled to appear at 7 p.m. Friday for interviews on KSTP.  At 6 p.m., the station will hold a debate for the 2nd Congressional District. State Sen. Eric Pratt, R-Prior Lake, will face Democratic opponent Matt Little.

For most of the candidates, the last time they appeared on stage with one another was at Minnesota Farmfest ahead of the August primary — a standard early campaign stop.

Here’s what to expect in the coming weeks as the Nov. 3 election approaches.

In the governor’s race, Demuth, the current state House speaker, and Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar have agreed to meet for a debate on Monday, Oct. 19, held by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce at a Brainerd-area resort.

That debate is scheduled to run from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and will be moderated by KSTP-TV politics reporter Tom Hauser. The discussion will center around “Minnesota’s economic future and the issues impacting business, including growth, workforce, taxes, regulation and competitiveness,” according to the chamber.

Klobuchar agreed to the debate last week as Demuth called a news conference challenging her to accept invitations to KSTP, TPT’s “Almanac” and Fox 9 or KMSP-TV.

Demuth and Klobuchar are now also set to meet on Fox 9 at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21. KBJR in Duluth, Mankato-based KEYC, Rochester-based KTTC and Fargo-based KVLY — TV stations affiliated with Grey Media — will also carry the broadcast. The stations haven’t named moderators yet.

Demuth has accepted invitations to five debates, including on “Almanac.” Klobuchar accepted a separate invitation for a debate on MPR that Demuth did not accept.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and Tafoya are scheduled to meet for a debate on MPR’s “Politics Friday” at noon on Oct. 16.

Much like the race for governor, the major-party Senate candidates have accepted invitations from different debate hosts and tried to pressure the other into joining. Flanagan did not commit to appear on KSTP with Tafoya.

Meanwhile, Tafoya has not accepted a debate to be held by Fox 9 and Grey affiliates in Duluth.

DFL Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and his Republican challenger, Tad Jude, have yet to meet for a debate. They’re scheduled to meet on “At Issue” with Tom Hauser at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18 on KSTP. It’ll be broadcast statewide on affiliate stations.

There is one statewide race that has seen meetings between candidates so far this season: state auditor.

DFL candidate Zack Filipovich, Republican candidate Scott Jensen and Forward Independence Party candidate Jay Reeves met on WCCO Radio on Sept. 6 at the Minnesota State Fair and on “Almanac” on Aug. 14.

Auditor candidates are scheduled to meet again on Oct. 11 at 10 a.m. on “At Issue.”

In 2022, when Jensen ran against Gov. Tim Walz, the two candidates met in August at Minnesota Farmfest, and for two debates in October: One on MPR and the other on KTTC in Rochester.

Ellison and Republican Jim Schultz met for several aired debates: one on MPR, one on “Almanac” and another on KSTP.

Simon debated Republican challenger Kim Crockett on MPR and on WCCO Radio in the secretary of state race.