TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — WTVA has agreed to air the only gubernatorial debate with a commitment from the two leading candidates in the race.

The debate between Democrat Jim Hood and Republican Tate Reeves will take place before a live audience at the University of Southern Mississippi at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 10.

That debate will be produced by WJTV in Jackson and WHLT in Hattiesburg.

WTVA had invited Hood and Reeves to take part in a primetime debate that same month at the television station. 

Hood was the only candidate to accept.

Reeves had originally accepted two debate invitations — one in Jackson and one in Hattiesburg, both by WJTV/WHLT.

Hood later accepted invitations from the debate in Hattiesburg, from WTVA and from WLBT in Jackson.

Then Friday, Reeves announced he had agreed to participate in a debate with WCBI in Columbus, but Hood countered he would only participate in that debate if Reeves would accept the invites from WTVA and WLBT.