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Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke Agree to Five Debates

The Senator and his Democratic challenger will participate in at least five debates before the November election.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his Democratic challenger, Rep. Beto O'Rourke, have agreed to a series of debates before the midterm elections, the El Paso Times reports. Cruz and O'Rourke will debate “at least five times,” with O'Rourke suggesting a sixth debate in El Paso be added to Cruz’s proposed five. The Cruz team told O'Rourke in a letter that the “debate plan isn't an open negotiation,” but a chance for O'Rourke to “participate in a fair and fruitful debate program across the Lone Star State.” Cruz offered to swap one of the existing host locations with El Paso to placate O'Rourke’s request. O'Rourke also wants the debates to include questions from the general audience in an “unscripted town hall format” and have two of them be in Spanish. Meanwhile, Cruz wants each debate to be limited to certain, predetermined topics–jobs and the economy, immigration, foreign policy, trade, and healthcare. O'Rourke initially sent out the debate proposal months ago, and Cruz only responded to the request this week with his adjustments.