INDIANAPOLIS — Later this month, the Indiana Debate Commission will host a debate surrounding the open U.S. Senate seat in the state of Indiana.
But as of Friday, one of the leading candidates for the position said he won’t participate.
The commission will host its U.S. Senate debate at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29. As of Friday, two of the senate candidates, Valerie McCray, a Democrat, and Andy Horning, a Libertarian, have accepted an invitation to participate. The debate will be streamed live on the commission’s website.
U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-District 3, Indiana’s Republican candidate for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, declined an invitation to participate in the debate. A news release from the commission states that all balloted candidates have participated in the debates hosted by the commission in 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018 and 2022.
Banks said in an interview on Friday that he is “not a fan” of the Indiana Debate Commission, stressing that it has not been a good experience working with them.
“I would very much like to debate my Democratic opponent,” Banks said. “The Indiana Debate Commission, though, I don’t feel like they would give us a fair debate and that’s why I declined.”
McCray said on Friday that she saw Banks’ denial of the invitation as a “major insult” and “disrespectful.”
“I’m the first woman to run for U.S. Senate, to be on the ballot for the U.S. Senate (in the state of Indiana) and this is the first time in history that a senatorial candidate has refused to debate,” McCray said. “So, I don’t know what that’s saying, but look at what that’s saying to the constituents. It’s disrespectful. It’s saying that we’re not ready to listen to women, that… we’re not important enough to stand up. Jim Banks needs to stand up and talk to us… talk to the different constituents, talk with families and let them know where he stands on these issues.”
The commission is soliciting questions from members of the public for the debate on Oct. 29. The release states that Indiana residents have until Oct. 17 to submit questions they would like to see in the debate, which can be submitted on the commission’s website.
“The U.S. Senate race has received little attention statewide, leaving many voters eager to learn more about the candidates on their ballot and the positions they hold,” Elizabeth Bennion, a political scientist and the leader of the Indiana Debate Commission, said in the release. “We look forward to hosting an informative discussion about issues that matter to Hoosier voters.”
The commission is a non-partisan and statewide organization founded in 2007. The release said the commission has hosted debates since 2008, including nine previous general election U.S. Senate debates and four U.S. Senate primary debates.
For more information about the upcoming debate, click here.
FOX59/CBS4 has reached out to Andrew Horning, the Libertarian candidate, for a statement regarding the commission’s debate. As of this story’s publication, we have not received a response. This story will be updated if he responds to the request for comment.
