Lujan declines to take part in TV debate [View all]

When candidates for a high-profile Senate race face off in a debate next month, there might be an empty podium onstage.

KOB-TV and the Santa Fe New Mexican will host debates in early October featuring candidates from this year’s races for the 3rd Congressional District and U.S. Senate seats, the TV station and newspaper have confirmed.

But U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, a Northern New Mexico Democrat running for the Senate, has declined his invitation to participate in an Oct. 5 debate. KOB-TV, Republican Mark Ronchetti and Libertarian Bob Walsh said they will move forward and hold the debate without the congressman.

“The reality is KOB has been doing debates for more than half a century,” said Michelle Donaldson, KOB-TV’s vice president and general manager. “I don’t feel comfortable lessening our commitment because one of the candidates hasn’t committed.”

Read more: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/elections/luj-n-declines-to-take-part-in-tv-debate/article_497d43ea-ec78-11ea-b095-fb7e854563ae.html