Texas Republicans Decline Statewide Midterm Debate Invitations

Republican candidates for major statewide offices in Texas are avoiding televised debates during the current midterm election cycle. Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate and current Attorney General, has declined multiple challenges from Democratic nominee James Talarico. Paxton stated he does not want a CNN reporter covering the event, though he previously suggested he would debate if the terms were right.

Governor Greg Abbott has similarly ignored repeated calls for a forum from Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa. While Abbott has participated in gubernatorial debates in the past, he now claims he is better served by making campaign stops across the state. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has also avoided debating his opponent, state Representative Vikki Goodwin.

Democratic candidates have intensified their criticism of these refusals. James Talarico accused Paxton of being a puppet who refuses to answer public questions, while Gina Hinojosa argued that Abbott is trying to hide from his record. The only potential exception is the railroad commissioner race, where Democrat Jon Rosenthal announced a scheduled date of October 22 with Republican Bo French, although French has not publicly confirmed the appearance.