Two candidates in Pennsylvania’s 8th congressional district in the House of Representatives – Democrat Matt Cartwright and a republican Rob Bresnahan – agreed to debate just two weeks before the November 5 general election.
The couple accepted an invitation from WVIA, a regional, nonprofit television station affiliated with PBS and NPR, to the debate on Oct. 22 or 23. The debate will be held in Burke Auditorium on the campus of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre and will be broadcast live on WVIA-TV and WVIA radio.
“For nearly two decades, WVIA has provided a valuable platform for area voters to weigh in on who they will choose to represent them in Washington,” said a Cartwright campaign spokesman. MG Freemody“Congressman Cartwright looks forward to sharing with his constituents his position on the issues that matter to them.”
“It is disappointing that Congressman Cartwright would agree to just one debate more than a month after early voting began and just days before the election, showing a complete lack of respect for the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Voters deserve more than one debate to hear why Congressman Cartwright has repeatedly voted against securing the border and wastefully spending money that fuels inflation on basic necessities like groceries and gas,” Bresnahan said.
According to the Republican candidate’s campaign, it was agreed with WBRE/WYOU to discuss details of the next debate, which will take place earlier in the cycle, in slow September or early October.
“We urge Congressman Cartwright to also agree to this debate,” Bresnahan’s campaign said in a statement.
Cartwright’s campaign did not respond when asked whether they would agree to more than one debate, saying they needed more information.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced in June that it had reserved $1.976 million in ad time for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton television market, while the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) reserved $1.6 million for that market. While the DCCC and NRCC have reserved ads for other television markets in Pennsylvania, none is larger than the amount reserved for that market in the 8th Congressional District.
Cook Political Report AND Larry Sabato’s Crystal BallTwo different national rating agencies have rated the race for the 8th Congressional District as “uncertain.”
The 8th Congressional District includes all of Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne, and parts of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
