JEFFERSON CITY • The candidates running for Missouri governor and U.S. Senate will meet on stage Friday for the first time this election season.

The event, which is part of the Missouri Press Association’s annual convention, will take place in Branson, with the governor candidates facing off for an hour beginning at 1 p.m., followed by the Senate candidates at 2:30 p.m.

Both forums can be viewed via a livestream at the Springfield News-Leader website. The Senate forum also will be aired on C-SPAN.

Candidates for governor include Democrat Chris Koster, Republican Eric Greitens, Libertarian Cisse Spragins, Independent Lester Turilli Jr. and Don Fitz for the Green Party.

On the Senate side, it may be the only time voters get a chance to see incumbent U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt and Demcratic challenger Jason Kander together before Election Day. The Senate forum also will include Libertarian Jonathan Dine, the Constitution Party’s Fred Ryman and Green Party candidate Johnathan McFarland.