Debates in the works between Wild and Mackenzie in 7th Congressional District race
Incumbent Democrat Susan Wild and her Republican opponent Ryan Mackenzie are working out the details for two debates in their race in the 7th Congressional District.
Mackenzie, currently a state representative in the 187th District, said two debates are proposed – one hosted by WFMZ-TV 69’s “Business Matters” and the other by Blue Ridge Communication TV (BRCTV13).
The debates are proposed to be scheduled before Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballots are sent to voters, which will be in October, according to a July 24 press release.
Mackenzie said Wild “had not agreed to both debates” at the time his press release went out.
“It is my hope that Representative Wild will join in these debates so voters can see the clear differences between her extreme positions and failed policies of the last four years as compared to my proven record and positive plan for the future.”
In a July 25 response, Wild said she will appear in two debates, but that the dates proposed by the television stations, which haven’t been publicly released, do not work for her. She wants to look for other dates.
“As I have done every cycle, I plan to give voters across Pennsylvania’s 7th District multiple opportunities to evaluate my vision and record of delivering for the Greater Lehigh Valley. I am not available on the dates Ryan Mackenzie proposed for our debates, as I will be in Washington fulfilling my duties as a member of Congress. However, I agree in principle to at least these two debates, and I look forward to finding mutually agreeable dates.”
Editor’s note: The two television stations mentioned in this story proposed the dates of the dates. A previous version of this story incorrectly said Ryan Mackenzie had proposed the dates.