U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett and Democratic challenger Will Lawrence will face off Oct. 6 in a televised debate at WKAR's Lansing studios.

The one-hour debate in Michigan's 7th Congressional District race, reported by WKAR, will be co-hosted by WKAR, WILX and FOX 47. WKAR's Sheri Jones and WILX's David Andrews will moderate. A journalist panel including WKAR's Sophia Saliby and Colin Jackson will pose questions.

The tossup district, which includes all of Ingham, Clinton, Shiawassee and Livingston counties and parts of Genesee, Eaton and Oakland counties, is expected to be one of a handful of races that determine which party controls the U.S. House for the second half of President Donald Trump's term. The district went for Trump by just over 1 percentage point in 2024, according to Politico.

Barrett, a first-term Republican from Charlotte and Army veteran, said in a statement he believes debates are fundamental to showing voters the differences between candidates. He said he is proud of his first-term record.

Lawrence campaign manager Stevie O'Hanlon criticized Barrett for not holding an in-person town hall since taking office. Barrett has instead participated in virtual town halls and smaller invite-only meetings with stakeholders, according to WKAR.

"We're looking forward to the opportunity to share the stage with him and have him finally answer for his votes to cut healthcare and give billions in tax breaks to data center developers," O'Hanlon said.

On Aug. 25, Lawrence hosted an open question-and-answer session outside Barrett's Lansing office at 101 S. Washington Square, drawing a few dozen constituents, Lansing City Pulse reported.

Both candidates have highlighted data center regulation and campaign finance reform as priorities, though they differ on specifics.

Barrett won the seat in 2024 by defeating Democratic former state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. by 3.7 percentage points. Lawrence, a climate and tenant rights organizer and co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, won the Democratic primary on Aug. 5 with 44% of the vote, according to the Lansing State Journal.

National figures have flocked to the district. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Lansing on Aug. 18 and acknowledged the race could determine control of the chamber. Five cabinet secretaries have traveled to Barrett's district since June, according to WKAR. Lawrence has campaigned with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

The debate will air on WKAR-TV. The general election is Nov. 3.