U.S. Senate debate Sunday at Muhlenberg College
Lt. Gov. Fetterman given until 5 p.m. Thursday to decide about participating
The first debate for Democrats running for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania’s May 17 primary election will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Muhlenberg College in Allentown.
Candidates state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who represents the 181st House district, and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, who represents Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, accepted invitations to participate.
Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who was also invited, has yet to say whether he will be there.
Today, Muhlenberg College said Fetterman will have until 5 p.m. Thursday to say whether he will attend.
“To date, we do not have confirmation of attendance by Lieutenant Governor Fetterman’s campaign. Yesterday we gave the Lieutenant Governor’s campaign a deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, to provide a definitive yes or no.”
The announcement continued, “We remain optimistic that the Lieutenant Governor will attend as we know there is sincere interest in his participation across both the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania. The hall will be set up with three podiums on a raised stage, with or without the participation of the Lieutenant Governor.”
The debate, which will focus on policy issues, will be held in front of an invited audience 3-4:30 p.m. April 3. It will also be broadcast by PCN and viewable without a paywall. Muhlenberg will also provide a link.
The debate is being hosted by City & State PA, Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion as well as by the student organizations Muhlenberg College Democrats and The Muhlenberg Weekly.
Moderators are Christopher Borick, professor of political science and director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, Jenny DeHuff, editor-in-chief of City & State PA, and Ari Mittleman, founder and host of Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics.
The debate comes as five Democrats and seven Republicans filed petitions to run for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican who is not seeking re-election.
The other Democrats who have filed are Kevin Baumlin and Alexandria Khalil. Only the front-runners were invited to the debate, according to City & State PA.
Republicans who have filed are: Kathy Barnette, Jeffrey Bartos, Mehmet Oz, Carla Herd Sands, David McCormick, Sean Gale and George Bochetto.
For more on the Senate race and candidates who announced their attention to run, read City & State PA’s story here.
Persons interested in submitting questions for Sunday’s debate and learning more about it can click here: U.S. Senate Democratic Debate.