CNN will host an Oct. 14 town hall with Democrat James Talarico in Fort Worth. He’s running against Republican Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate in Texas.
Evan Vucci
REUTERS
CNN is headed to Fort Worth in October for a town hall with Democrat James Talarico, who is in a close race for the U.S. Senate in Texas against Republican Ken Paxton.
The Oct. 14 town hall will be hosted in conjunction with Jubilee Media and moderated by CNN Anchor Erin Burnett, according to a CNN news release. Talarico will answer questions from Burnett and a live audience of Democratic, Republican and independent voters planning to vote in the Nov. 3 midterm election.
“I’m excited to take questions from Texans — because that’s what anyone applying for the job of serving 31 million people should do,” Talarico said in a Sept. 28 written statement, shared in a news release from his campaign.
CNN said Paxton – Texas’ attorney general who defeated incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn in a May GOP runoff – was also invited to participate in a town hall.
A spokesperson for Paxton did not return requests for comment on the town hall and debate plans ahead of the general election.
The conversation with CNN and Jubilee, which is not open to the public, will air live on CNN at 7 p.m. Oct. 14.
It will also be streamed live on CNN.com and on TV and mobile applications for paid subscribers, per the news release. The town hall will be available on demand after, including on Jubliee’s YouTube page.
Paxton and Talarico have yet to debate as Election Day nears, though Talarico has called for debates between the two candidates and has accepted debate invitations.
The Democratic candidate proposed a Fox News debate moderated by Bret Baier during a Sept. 24 interview at the Texas Tribune Festival. In a Tuesday news release, Talarico’s campaign announced that Fox had agreed to host if both candidates participated.
“Debates best serve voters and the democratic process when both candidates participate and voters have the opportunity to compare positions on the issues,” a Fox News Media spokesperson said in a written statement. “We will move forward with the debate if both candidates commit to appearing.”
Talarico said this in a written response to the development:“Ball’s in your court, Ken.”
Both candidates recently participated in separate Q&As with the United States Hispanic Business Council, where they discussed topics like affordability, health care, immigration and data centers.
Election Day is Nov. 3. Early voting runs Oct. 19-30.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She’s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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