WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright and 8th Congressional District challenger Rob Bresnahan have agreed to one debate — so far — but Bresnahan has asked there be more than one.
Cartwright, D-Moosic, and Bresnahan, a Republican from Dallas Township, announced Wednesday that they have accepted an invitation from WVIA to debate on Oct. 22 or Oct. 23.
WVIA will host the debate at the King’s College Burke Auditorium at 7 p.m. on either date, pending confirmation from the two campaigns.
The debate will simulcast live on WVIA-TV and WVIA Radio.
“It’s disappointing that Congressman Cartwright is only agreeing to a single debate over a month after early voting starts and just days before the election, showing a total lack of respect for the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Bresnahan said in an emailed statement. “Voters deserve more than a single debate to hear why Congressman Cartwright has repeatedly voted against securing the border and wasteful spending driving inflation on essentials like groceries and gas.”
The Bresnahan campaign said they agreed on Aug. 20 (Tuesday) with local television station WBRE/WYOU to discuss details of a debate seen on both NBC and CBS in late September or early October.
“We call on Congressman Cartwright to agree to this debate as well,” the Bresnahan campaign stated.
According to the Bresnahan campaign, earlier this summer the Cartwright campaign stated the incumbent Democrat could not debate sooner than Oct. 22, although the U.S. House of Representatives calendar shows that they are not in session the entire month of October.
“By Oct. 22, Congressman Cartwright will have been in the district for 25 days since the last scheduled session day in Washington D.C. and 36 days after early voting begins. He refuses to give the early voters of Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District an opportunity to hear where he stands on the wide-open southern border, rising inflation, and dysfunction in Washington D.C.”
Cartwright’s campaign team confirmed that the Cartwright is holding both dates open and pledged his participation to WVIA in early August.
“For nearly two decades, WVIA has provided a valuable platform for area voters to evaluate who they will choose to represent them in Washington,” said campaign spokesperson MG Darmody. “Congressman Cartwright looks forward to sharing with his constituents exactly where he stands on issues that are important to them.”
The Cartwright campaign did not respond when asked if they would agree to more than one debate, stating they needed more information.
The 8th Congressional District includes all of Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
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