Two governors seeking second terms are facing their challengers on debate stages this week.

In Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore and Republican Dan Cox meet Tuesday in their only scheduled debate. The one-hour debate airs at 7 p.m. on Maryland Public Television, after being recorded earlier in the day. It will also air on C-SPAN, WBAL-TV 11, WBAL Radio, NBC4, WHUT and WETA.

It is a rematch. Moore beat Cox in 2022 with 64.5% of the vote to Cox's 32.2%. Two other candidates are on the ballot: Andy Ellis of the Green Party and Cathy White of the Working Class Party.

Cost of living tops the list of issues, along with jobs, redistricting and data centers. Moore signed an order on Sept. 23 creating a task force on data centers. Cox wants to pause new ones. Early voting runs Oct. 22 to 29, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

In Oregon, Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek and Republican state Sen. Christine Drazan held the first of three debates on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene. It got heated. Kotek accused Drazan of "distorting the truth." They split over how Oregon votes. Drazan has backed voting at polling places, while Kotek defended the state's vote-by-mail system. Asked about the 2020 election, Drazan said Biden won.

They also clashed on climate and schools. Drazan said she would end the state's Climate Protection Program on her first day. Both now support a pause on new data centers. Analysts rate the race a toss-up.

What we know: Maryland's only debate airs Tuesday at 7 p.m. on MPT.
What we don't: Whether either debate moves voters in races with very different polls.