Candidate Debates Become Sticking Point in Pennsylvania’s Governor and Senate Races

Campaign season is about to kick into high gear, as it normally does after Labor Day. By now, candidate debates are usually scheduled. But there are still questions about how debates will play out in Pennsylvania’s top two races—for governor and U.S. Senate.

Race for Governor

Republican gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Doug Mastriano will not participate in debates hosted by legacy media, a spokesman from the campaign confirmed. He has another plan that he believes will be more fair.

Mastriano’s campaign sent a letter on Aug. 16 to Democrat candidate Attorney General Josh Shapiro, proposing the two campaigns work together to put on a debate.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Attorney General Josh Shapiro spoke in Pittsburgh about his office’s continued commitment to protect abortion access for women. July 14, 2022. (Commonwealth Media Service)

“Like you, I have received many invitations from media outlets and civic organizations to participate in gubernatorial debates,” Mastriano wrote. “While I believe that debates can offer a valuable service to Pennsylvania voters, that’s only if they are conducted fairly. Typically, Republican statewide candidates fall prey to the trap of debates that are effectively a two-against-one matchup, in which the mainstream media who moderate the debates, are unpaid advocates and ideological allies of the Democrat candidates.”

Mastriano said he welcomes a debate, but will only participate if it’s a fair fight.

Mastriano proposes two 90-minute debates in October. Each candidate chooses one location. Each debate would have two moderators, with each candidate choosing one. The moderators would be allowed an equal number of questions asked of each candidate. The topics can be open-ended with no limits, Mastriano wrote.

Doug Mastriano, Republican member of the Pennsylvania Senate, speaks at the “Let the Church ROAR” National Prayer Rally on the National

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