LAS VEGAS — Freshman Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen of Nevada will debate Republican opponent Sam Brown on Oct. 17, but only on her terms, a disappointed moderator aspirant said this week.
KLAS-TV in Las Vegas will broadcast the debate between Rosen, who turns 67, and Brown, who is 40, next week, while KTVN-TV in Reno will simulcast the event. Rosen’s campaign said Univision was its “news partner” for the debate, and that “the debate will then be translated into Spanish and broadcast statewide.”
“This debate will be an opportunity for Nevadans to make a clear choice in this election between my bipartisan, independent record of getting results for hardworking Nevadans and my radical MAGA opponent who is trying to impose a dangerous, far-right agenda on our state,” Rosen said.
Brown’s campaign did not immediately comment on the incident.Brown, a combat-wounded Army veteran and entrepreneur, is trailing Rosen by 4 points, according to the RealClearPolitics average.
Nevada Independent CEO Jon Ralston, who gave the candidates a platform at the website’s annual IndieFest conference, had plenty to say.
“I invited both candidates, and Republican Sam Brown quickly accepted. But Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen’s team started making demands after initially saying the senator was available for a mid-October date.” I have written Ralston, a veteran Las Vegas political journalist.
He said the Rosen campaign has requested a live televised debate that would be broadcast in “bilingual” and without an audience. Ralston said he could not promise bilingual or live broadcasts. As for not having an audience, he said the IndyFest audience would refrain from clapping or cheering, as observed by participants in the 2022 gubernatorial debates.
Ralston wrote that the “full list of terms” promised by Rosen’s campaign never materialized. Instead, he received an email saying the incumbent’s campaign had “decided to move in a different direction.”
The Washington Post has reached out to Rosen’s and Brown’s campaigns for comment.
