{"id":2654446,"date":"2026-09-04T05:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T09:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-battleground-senate-candidates-may-never-debate\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T05:43:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T09:43:33","slug":"these-battleground-senate-candidates-may-never-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/these-battleground-senate-candidates-may-never-debate\/","title":{"rendered":"These battleground Senate candidates may never debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthese-battleground-senate-candidates-may-never-debate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2654446&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Several key U.S. Senate races in Maine, Texas, and Ohio face challenges regarding televised debates, wiht many candidates choosing not to participate or refusing to debate each othre. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico will debate Republican Ken Paxton, who has yet to participate since 2014, citing influence from &#8220;billionaire handlers.&#8221; In Maine, incumbent Republican Susan Collins has accepted multiple debates, whereas Democratic challenger Troy jackson has not. Ohio&#8217;s Senate race remains debate-free as incumbent Sherrod Brown and his Republican opponent have not agreed to debate. Conversely, races in Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, and Michigan have scheduled or held debates. The decline in debate participation reflects a broader trend, with fewer debates held over recent election cycles, perhaps impacting democratic engagement. Experts warn that this avoidance of debates may harm the political process, and some political figures and campaign officials see debate scheduling as both a strategic move and a reflection of political polarization.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Undecided voters in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4708527\/thune-trump-fundraising-paxton-texas-senate-race\/\">Texas<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4556137\/ohio-senate-race-set-sherrod-brown-jon-husted\/\">Ohio <\/a>who want to see their <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate <\/a>candidates debate head-to-head before the midterm elections may be out of luck.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trio of battleground toss-up contests, which could determine whether Republicans keep control of the Senate, are the remaining competitive races this cycle without a televised debate on the calendar. The sagas have devolved into a perennial tug-of-war, in which candidates accuse one another of ducking the camera lights and, by extension, the voters.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4712550\/battleground-senate-candidates-may-never-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>These battleground Senate candidates may never share a debate stage<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4713127\/missouri-supreme-court-republican-map-midterm-ballot\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Missouri Supreme Court forbids GOP-drawn map from appearing on ballot pending vote<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4713085\/dccc-reserves-coordinated-tv-ad-spending\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats\u2019 campaign arm reserves $338,000 in coordinated TV ad spending<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Texas, Democrat James Talarico has agreed to three televised debates from late September to mid-October. Republican rival Ken Paxton has not agreed to any but has stated an intent to participate in at least one.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Maine, it is the Republican, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who has accepted invitations to four televised debates in the coming weeks. Democratic challenger Troy Jackson has not agreed to any and has instead invited Collins to appear at his town halls.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Ohio, neither Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) nor former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown has agreed to a debate. In 2024, Brown and now-Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), who ousted Brown, both expressed desires to face off on the debate stage but ultimately never did.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, the equally contentious and competitive Senate races in Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, and Michigan have already held or agreed to hold at least one debate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Paxton, who has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacurrent.com\/news\/texas-news\/u-s-senate-hopeful-ken-paxton-still-hasnt-accepted-invitation-to-debate-rival-james-talarico\/\">not participated in a debate<\/a> since being elected Texas attorney general in 2014, will not debate \u201cbecause he answers to his billionaire handlers,\u201d Talarico said in a statement. The state representative and his campaign have even <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TeamTalaricoHQ\/status\/2095120346500272315?s=20\">cut digital ads<\/a> provoking Paxton to \u201cprove us wrong\u201d that \u201cyour billionaire handlers will finally let you onstage\u201d and saying Talarico is \u201cnot chicken.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Collins campaign made an offer to the Jackson campaign to hold next week\u2019s debate any day Monday through Thursday but had yet to receive a response, according to Collins spokesman Shawn Roderick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTroy still hasn\u2019t committed, despite eagerly participating in more than four gubernatorial debates and additional forums earlier this year and telling reporters more than a week ago that he\u2019d debate \u2018tomorrow,\u2019\u201d Roderick said in a statement, referencing his prior bid this cycle for Maine governor and a Senate primary debate. \u201cWhy won\u2019t he debate now that he\u2019s running for the Senate?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The New Hampshire Senate race, another competitive seat, will hold its party primaries Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The debate jockeying can also be a power struggle for media hosts as much as it is for candidates. National, state, and local outlets, which can involve both broadcast and print reporters, will extend invitations to both sides for a proposed date, time, and place. But unless they can get both candidates to agree to show up, they could lose out on hosting a debate to competing outlets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was commonplace in years past for Senate races to feature multiple televised debates in the weeks and months leading up to the November general election. But less so is the case nowadays, with candidates viewing the risks as outweighing the benefits and frequently opting for only one debate, if any.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4711757\/john-thune-worried-republicans-losing-senate-majority-2026-elections\/\">THUNE SAYS REPUBLICANS AT RISK OF LOSING SENATE MAJORITY: \u2018I WORRY ABOUT THAT\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 2010 cycle, the five most competitive Senate races featured a combined 17 general election debates, an average of a little more than three debates per contest, according to a Brookings Institution <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.brookings.edu\/articles\/the-worrying-decline-of-the-senate-candidate-debate\/\">analysis<\/a>. By 2020, that number had dwindled to seven, averaging just over one debate per race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn our hyperpolitical world, how campaigns \u2014 and candidates \u2014 conduct themselves matters,\u201d Brookings wrote in its 2022 analysis. \u201cThey thus do democracy a service when they buck the trend and meet on the debate stage \u2014 a message they can champion as Americans fret over the future of the nation\u2019s politics and governance.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Voters in Maine, Texas, and Ohio may miss key Senate debates before midterms<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2654447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP24024077038680.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[15571,6571,3740],"class_list":["post-2654446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-debates","tag-elections","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP24024077038680.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2654446"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654449,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654446\/revisions\/2654449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}