Also, an update on Rhode Island's two US House of Representatives election
By Christopher Shea, Rhode Island Current
The Whitehouse campaign has indicated he’s willing, and one TV station has already extended invitations to both candidates.
Morgan had some practice when she taped a debate with her GOP primary opponent Raymond McKay Aug. 16 on WPRI 12. She went on to beat the former Warwick city administrator 64.5% to 35.5% in Tuesday’s primary.
Whitehouse’s televised appearances during his Democratic primary against Michael J. Costa were strictly through paid advertisements. Rhode Island’s junior U.S. Senator fended off Costa’s long-shot bid 83.8% to 16.2%.
“If Senator Whitehouse refuses to debate, it will be clear to everyone that he’s more interested in protecting his career than standing up for Rhode Island,” Morgan said in a statement Thursday morning.
“Sheldon will debate during this campaign season,” campaign coordinator Laura Fusco said in an email Thursday afternoon responding to an inquiry from Rhode Island Current.
When and where a debate will occur is still up in the air. WPRI-12 Business and Politics Editor Ted Nesi told Rhode Island Current “the station has extended an invitation to the U.S. Senate candidates to debate in October.”
Nexstar Media Inc., the station’s parent company, requires candidates to poll at least 5% and must report at least $100,000 in campaign contributions — at least 25% of which must be raised from in-state constituents — in order to qualify for a televised debate.
During the most recent reporting period, Whitehouse’s campaign had more than $3.6 million on hand. Morgan reported around $144,000. The next filing deadline is Oct. 15 — the final day for Rhode Island voters to request their mail-in ballots and one day before early voting kicks off.
Unless fundraising ramps up quickly in the two U.S. House races, WPRI won’t be hosting debates between the Democratic incumbents and their Republican challengers.
Freshman U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo had $776,000 in his bid for a full term representing Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District as of Aug. 21. His Republican challenger Allen Waters had a little over $4,300 in his campaign account.
U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner’s re-election campaign had $994,000 on hand, while Republican Steven Corvi failed to raise or spend more than the $5,000 minimum requiring a quarterly campaign finance report.
The general election will be held on Nov. 5.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct minimum for campaign contributions candidates must receive to be eligible to participate in a debate televised by a Nexstar Media outlet.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Rhode Island Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Rhode Island Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janine L. Weisman for questions: info@rhodeislandcurrent.com. Follow Rhode Island Current on Facebook and X.