The candidates running in one of the most hotly contested races for the United States Senate will face off at a debate hosted by WFMJ in Youngstown on October 17. 

J.D. Vance and Tim Ryan have both agreed to the debate, which will be held at Stambaugh Auditorium at 7 p.m. on that date. 

This comes after a long back and forth between the camps over when and if they would ever square off ahead of the November election. 

Last month, Ryan agreed to three debates, including the WFMJ debate, along with one to be hosted by the Ohio Debate Commission in Akron and another to be hosted by WLWT in Cincinnati. 

Vance's campaign countered later in the same day by agreeing to a WLWT debate, but without committing to the same date as Ryan and another one to be hosted by Fox 8 in Cleveland. 

Vance's camp later declined the Ohio Debate Commission invitation, along with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, citing concerns with the organizer's past political affiliations. 

Ryan's campaign sent out a statement Friday agreeing to an updated debate schedule that includes WLWT on October 5, along with the WFMJ debate.

Ryan's campaign included the caveat that they would also agree to the Fox 8 debate, but only on the condition that Vance would agree to the WFMJ debate as well. 

On Monday morning, Ryan's campaign issued a new release, saying they had agreed to three debates with Vance: 

One hosted by WLWT at Parrish Auditorium on Miami University's campus on October 4

One hosted Fox 8 in Cleveland on October 10 and the WFMJ debate at Youngstown's historic Stambaugh Auditorium on October 17. 

Vance's campaign says they have agreed to both the Cleveland debate on the 10th and the WFMJ debate on the 17th but said the WLWT debate poses a scheduling conflict they can't avoid. 

"We have reiterated in multiple conversations with WLWT that an October 4th debate in Hamilton is not logistically possible," Luke Schroeder, spokesman for the Vance campaign, said. 

The race between Ryan and Vance is one of a handful of closely-watched races that will determine control of the United States Senate, which is currently controlled by the Democrats by the slimmest possible margin, 50-50, with the Vice President serving as a tie-breaker. 

The winner of the race will take over the seat currently held by Republican Rob Portman. 

Vance is seen to have an advantage in a state that has leaned further and further toward the GOP in recent years; however, Ryan's campaign has been making major inroads, making the race a dead heat. 

 A recent Marist poll showed the race as being razor thin but also pointed to Ryan making major inroads with Republicans, while Vance has not managed to attract much support from Democrats across the aisle. 

Another factor noted in the poll is the northeast Ohio area leaning towards Ryan, which, despite Ryan having served in Congress for nearly two decades, has drifted towards Republicans in recent election cycles.