Vasquez, Cunningham set Oct. 16 debate as Vasquez seeks Spanish-language matchup
Gabe Vasquez and Greg Cunningham are set to debate Oct. 16 on KRQE in the NM-02 race. Vasquez also says Cunningham has not responded to a Spanish-language Univision debate challenge.
The NM-02 candidates are scheduled to debate on KRQE, while Gabe Vasquez says Greg Cunningham has not responded to a separate Univision debate challenge
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Republican challenger Greg Cunningham are scheduled to debate Oct. 16 in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, while Vasquez is also pressing Cunningham to agree to a Spanish-language debate.
Vasquez’s campaign announced Friday that the two candidates are confirmed to appear on KRQE at 5 p.m. Oct. 16. The campaign also said Vasquez has challenged Cunningham to participate in a Spanish-language debate hosted by Univision.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, Vasquez’s campaign said Cunningham had not responded to the Univision challenge.
“Voters in this district deserve to hear from Gabe and Cunningham, on the same stage, on the same night,” Vasquez campaign spokesperson Patricia Socarras Santiago said in a statement.
She also questioned why Cunningham had not agreed to the Spanish-language debate.
The Oct. 16 debate would put the two candidates on the same stage about two weeks before the Nov. 3 general election. Cunningham is the Republican nominee challenging Vasquez, the Democratic incumbent, in NM-02.
The candidates appeared separately this week at New Mexico State University’s Domenici Conference, where Cunningham emphasized public safety and Vasquez discussed immigration reform, working-class issues and opposition to President Donald Trump. The conference format was not a debate.
Vasquez is seeking a third term representing the district. Cunningham is making his first general-election run for the seat.
