Democratic gubernatorial rivals Valdez, White to debate next week
Democratic gubernatorial candidates Lupe Valdez and Andrew White will debate May 11 at the University of Texas in what will be their first and perhaps only debate before the May 22 runoff election.
White has been pressing for as many debates as possible, and Valdez hadn’t previously committed to participating in a debate.
Details are still being ironed out, but party officials are speaking with Texas media executives to find a moderator or moderators with the hope of having the event broadcast statewide on radio and TV in addition to a livestream on the internet. There also will be a live audience at the debate, said James Lee, the lead organizer of the debate who also serves on the State Democratic Executive Committee.
The debate is being sponsored by a coalition of groups including State Tejano Democrats, Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Texas Stonewall Democrats, Texas Young Democrats, Texas College Democrats and the Travis County Democratic Party.
“We are excited to bring the candidates together, face-to-face in Austin,” Lee said. “With both candidates polling within single digits of the incumbent, there is a lot of grass-roots energy out there. Voters deserve a chance to hear from the candidates on their vision for Texas, and the future of the party.”
Two of the sponsoring groups — the Tejano Democrats and Stonewall Democrats — have endorsed Valdez, and both campaigns were aware of that, he said. The other groups involved have not endorsed a candidate.
White, a Houston entrepreneur, is the son of former Gov. Mark White but is making his first run for office. Valdez received 42.9 percent of the vote in the primary.