Two weeks before early voting opens, Texas voters may not see the major statewide candidates on a debate stage this fall.
Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, has not accepted any debate invitations from Democrat James Talarico, The Texas Tribune reported Wednesday. If that holds, the Tribune said, it could be the first Texas Senate race in about 25 years without a debate. In July, a Paxton spokesperson told the Tribune "of course we're going to debate."
His campaign did not answer the Tribune's repeated questions about whether he still plans to.
Talarico has accepted at least four invitations from CNN and local TV stations, and Fox News agreed to host a forum he proposed. He has said a debate would let voters "make an informed choice."
Governor's race and down ballot
Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign has not publicly agreed to face Democrat Gina Hinojosa, who has accepted four invitations from local TV networks. Abbott debated his Democratic opponents in his three earlier races for governor, in 2014, 2018 and 2022. Hinojosa has accused him of hiding from his record.
The Tribune found that most Republican nominees for statewide office have not taken up debate offers. Campaign spokespeople for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Mayes Middleton, the Republican nominee for attorney general, did not respond to its requests for comment. Their Democratic opponents, state Rep. Vikki Goodwin and state Sen. Nathan Johnson, have called for debates.
The one statewide matchup with a debate on the calendar is for railroad commissioner. Democrat Jon Rosenthal has said he and Republican Bo French agreed to meet Oct. 22, though French has not publicly confirmed it.
