Federal politicians aren’t the only ones who’ll be debating on WPRI 12 this month – the candidates in two hotly contested General Assembly races will slug it out on air, as well.

House Speaker Gordon Fox has agreed to debate Mark Binder, his opponent for state representative in House District 4, on a special episode of Newsmakers next week.

Fox, a Democrat, and Binder, an independent, will tape the debate next Friday morning. It will air Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. on WPRI 12 and Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. on Fox Providence. It will also be posted online. Tim White will moderate with Ted Nesi and RIPR’s Ian Donnis on the panel.

Two weeks later, Burrillville Rep. Cale Keable will face off against challenger Donald Fox in a “Newsmakers” debate taping on Nov. 1. Keable, a Democrat, and Fox, a Republican, are having a rematch to represent House District 47 after Keable beat Fox by 197 votes two years ago.

The Fox-Binder and Keable-Fox debates were both requested by viewers, and they follow a series of well-received General Assembly debates on Newsmakers during the primaries, including Dan DaPonte vs. Bob DaSilva, Peter Petrarca vs. Greg Costantino and Mike McCaffrey vs. Laura Pisaturo.

Two WPRI 12/Providence Journal debates for Congress are also still on tap.

In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic incumbent David Cicilline will tangle with Republican challenger Brendan Doherty on Tuesday night – get tickets and submit questions here. For U.S. Senate, Democratic incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse will face Republican opponent Barry Hinckley the following Tuesday, Oct. 23.