Plans for Abbott, Davis Debates Taking Shape

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott on Monday accepted two invitations from media outlets to debates with Democratic gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Wendy Davis in the fall.

The first, set for Sept. 19, would be held in McAllen. The second would take place Oct. 3, in Dallas.

“Greg Abbott looks forward to participating in substantive policy debates," Abbott campaign manager Wayne Hamilton said in a statement. “Sen. Wendy Davis has yet to accept any debate invitations.”

Davis campaign spokesman Zac Petkanas said she would release an “unprecedented debate schedule” on Tuesday for “all Texans in communities across the state,” signaling that the Davis campaign might be agreeable to more than two debates.

Avdiel Huerta, a spokesman for the Abbott campaign, did not immediately respond to questions about whether the Republican candidate would agree to more debates.

Davis had previously drawn criticism for not immediately agreeing to debate Abbott in the Rio Grande Valley. Carlos Sanchez, editor of the McAllen Monitor, which is scheduled to co-host the Sept. 19 debate, wrote last month that the Davis campaign “demurred” when offered an invitation.

The first debate would be hosted by the Monitor, KGBT-TV Action 4 News and KLTM Telemundo 40.

The second would be hosted by WFAA-TV in Dallas and broadcast by all Gannett stations in Texas.