TX: Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton won't debate their Democratic challengers.

[RandySF]

This year, voters will decide who will hold the most powerful elective offices in Texas. But with just three months before the 2018 midterms, only one debate, between the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial candidates, is on the calendar. In Texas races where recent polls have shown a closer-than-normal match-up — U.S. Senate, attorney general and lieutenant governor — candidates are either still going back-and-forth on whether a debate will actually happen, or have already refused invitations to do so.

Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick both have said they won’t debate the Democrats running to unseat them this year, drawing complaints from their opponents Justin Nelson and Mike Collier, respectively, that they were making it harder for voters to make informed decisions.

“Debates are an educational opportunity for all Texans to decide how to vote. This is a really important office,” Nelson told The Texas Tribune.
Paxton and Patrick, meanwhile, don’t see the need.

"It’s no secret Lt. Governor Patrick relishes debates, but since his opponent shows no sign of grasping even the most basic rudiments of state government, our campaign has no plans to debate him," Patrick strategist Allen Blakemore said in a statement to The Texas Tribune in July.

Paxton “will communicate directly with the voters,” his spokesman, Matt Welch, previously wrote, denying Nelson’s invitation for a debate. "Now is not the time to turn over the attorney general’s office to an unknown liberal democratic plaintiff trial lawyer who makes a living off destroying small businesses through abusive litigation,” Welch added.


https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/31/dan-patrick-ken-paxton-mike-collier-justin-nelson-debates/

[Cha]

1. Chickenshits.

[DFW]

2. When you know you will lose a debate, you say there is no need for one. n/t

[joshdawg]

3. Neither paxton nor patrick

"show no sign of grasping even the most basic rudiments of state government" and never will since both are republican.
And they both are cowards for not wanting to debate their opponents.
They make up two thirds of the assholes in Texas government.........abbott is the third part.

republicans.....what are they good for......absolutely nothing.

[SkyDancer]

4. I think there should be a minimum of 3 debates during a primary

[tammywammy]

5. This is the general election, the primary was in March. n/t

[SkyDancer]

7. Ya I just noticed that

I need coffee, bad, just woke up.

Same rule applies in a general. There should be debates & I believe that falls under free and open elections, at least for me it does. People deserve to hear from the candidates

[HuskyOffset]

6. Props to Paxton for one thing

Props to Paxton for one thing:

Paxton “will communicate directly with the voters,” his spokesman, Matt Welch, previously wrote, denying Nelson’s invitation for a debate. "Now is not the time to turn over the attorney general’s office to an unknown liberal democratic plaintiff trial lawyer who makes a living off destroying small businesses through abusive litigation,” Welch added.

At least he didn't say "...unknown liberal democrat plaintiff trial lawyer". Small victory for proper grammar, but I'll take them where I can get them.

Next, we have to work on the illogic of claiming that his opponent is too stupid for him to debate and expecting people to believe him.

[Renew Deal]

8. A TV network should put on a debate and accept whoever shows up.