Three of four leading candidates for Tennessee governor have agreed to a debate — without conditions — at 7 p.m. CT Oct. 27 at Middle Tennessee State University.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, the Republican nominee, has declined to participate.
The event organized by the Tennessee Press Association is set to be the first debate of this gubernatorial election cycle, despite many calls for one.
Throughout the primary, Blackburn declined to debate her opponents. A Republican primary debate had been scheduled for July in Lebanon but fell apart when Blackburn declined to participate. At a rally with President Donald Trump on Oct. 10, Blackburn did not answer questions from reporters about why she did not plan to participate in the debate.
In the general
election, Blackburn has declined to debate her Democratic opponent, Memphis Councilwoman Jerri Green, saying she won’t “give air to a socialist candidate who is running to destroy the agenda of Tennessee, destroy the United States and defund the police.”
Green’s team said she has accepted the invitation to the Oct. 27 debate and “looks forward to a robust discussion on how we lower costs, strengthen our schools and make Tennessee government work for everyday people.”
"Jerri Green is ready and eager to debate the issues and contrast her vision for Tennessee's working families with her opponents,” her campaign told The Tennessean.
The debate will be held in a studio setting at MTSU and livestreamed by a student-led production team, Tennessee Press Association President Dave Gould said. It will not be open to the public but will be streamable on websites of TPA member newspapers across the state, including The Tennessean.
“Members of the press have a duty and public service to inform Tennesseans about government and public affairs, including elections,” Gould said. “This is the first time in eight years Tennessee voters will elect a new governor, and it’s important the public hear from the major candidates in an open forum.”
Throughout her bid for governor, Blackburn has held largely invitation-only campaign events and focused on engaging with Republican officials and donors behind closed doors. Independent rival David Hatley, who has agreed to participate in the TPA debate, pledged last month to donate $1 million to charity if Blackburn agreed to debate.
“A $1.3 million haul from insiders and industry heads tells you who has Blackburn's ear,” Hatley said. “A refusal to debate tells you who doesn't — and that's the rest of Tennessee's voters, who deserve to see these candidates answer unscripted questions, side by side, instead of watching from outside a mansion gate. If Marsha Blackburn wants to be governor of all of Tennessee, she can start by showing up somewhere the price of admission isn't a check."
Independent Lauren Pinkston thanked TPA for organizing the debate and including all four leading candidates.
“I am unimpressed by any candidate who, after winning a major party nomination, continues campaigning to only Republicans or only Democrats. There is no leadership or courage required to enter a room of people who already agree with you," Pinkston said. "I look forward to showing voters who the true independent is in this race, and who has the skills needed to bridge political divides in defense of democratic principles over party politics.”
The Tennessee Press Association represents more than 133 print and digital news outlets across Tennessee.
Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Green, Hatley, Pinkston agree to debate; front-runner Blackburn declines
