If you want a chance to see Republican congressional candidate Harriet Hageman debate again before the general election, you’ll have to watch an archived version from the primary election.
Hageman on Monday said that she will not be participating in any future debates during the general election.
Hageman campaign manager Carly Miller told Cowboy State Daily that Hageman has traveled over 40,000 miles in the last few months, has spoken with thousands of voters and that’s a more effective way of meeting with Wyoming citizens.
“This is a much more effective way of communicating with Wyomingites and it’s how she will continue. We thank you for your invitation, but respectfully decline,” Miller told Wyoming PBS in rejecting the offer to participate in an upcoming debate.
That news is a disappointment to Constitution candidate Marissa Selvig. Selvig told Cowboy State Daily that the “election isn’t over” and Wyoming citizens should be able to see the candidates ‘side by side’ to see how they “interact with people who aren’t in their own party.”
“How people respond under pressure to a wide variety of differing opinions is an important thing for people to observe,” Selvig said.
Public Affairs Senior Producer Steve Peck said in an email to Selvig that Hageman’s decision not to appear was “unfortunate” but said the debate will go on without Hageman.
He said Wyoming PBS will host Selvig, Lynnette GreyBull, and Richard Brubaker on Thursday, October 13 at the Robert A. Peck Art Center Theater in Riverton at 8 p.m.
Hageman is the overwhelming favorite to win the November election. She toppled current Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney by more than a two-to-one margin.
“Hageman slaughtered Cheney by an astonishing number,” wrote Cowboy State Daily columnist Bill Sniffin. “The vote was 113,025 for Hageman compared to just 49,316 for Cheney. It was a blow-out of gigantic proportions.”
