Democrat Lupe Valdez accepted an invitation Wednesday to debate Republican Gov. Greg Abbott 鈥� it's just not the same debate Abbott agreed to last week.
The former Dallas County sheriff said yes to a one-hour debate on Monday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. at the University of Houston. Hosted by Houston's ABC13 and Univision45, the debate would be broadcast on television stations across Texas and livestreamed.
That debate would be in English, and would include Spanish translation and questions in Spanish.
鈥淭he future of our state should be taken seriously and candidates should be eager to share our vision for that future," Valdez said in a statement. "So let鈥檚 have a debate where all of Texas can be a part of the conversation."
Last week, Abbott's campaign from Irving-based Nexstar Media Group to debate Valdez on Friday, Sept. 28, in Austin. Nexstar would carry the debate on its 12 stations across Texas as well as partner stations in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. It would also be broadcast online.
Valdez's campaign tells 四虎影院 she doesn't plan to attend that, or any, debate that goes head-to-head with Friday night high school football. That's one of four conditions the campaign laid out for a any debate on Wednesday. The other three are:
- Televised live and available via livestream.
- Includes a live in-studio audience.
- Includes a Spanish-language media partner and questions in Spanish.
Valdez doesn鈥檛 plan to attend the Sept. 28 debate because it doesn鈥檛 fit all of those parameters, her campaign told 四虎影院. But they鈥檙e still in discussions with Nexstar to set up a debate that fits those criteria.
鈥淕overnor Abbott鈥檚 previous debate acceptance is hollow if the audience is shut out and the event is scheduled so no one is home to see it,鈥� Valdez said in the statement Wednesday. 鈥淚f he is truly committed to a forum for and by the people of Texas, he should accept our conditions.鈥�
In response to Valdez鈥檚 comments, Abbott's campaign sent this statement, "We鈥檝e agreed to the debate on the 28th and we look forward to our opponent accepting that invitation."
