About 120 people will be watching incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso) debate live Tuesday in a San Antonio television studio. Millions more likely will be tuning in via KENS 5, other Texas TEGNA-owned TV stations, and online across the nation as the rivals battle it out for the Senate seat.
This was to be the third debate in the closely watched race, but the second debate, scheduled for Sept. 30 in Houston, was canceled because of Cruz’s participation in the Senate’s confirmation process for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. While the first debate in Dallas was focused on domestic policy, this one is expected to cover domestic and foreign policy.
The San Antonio event, which starts at 8 p.m., may be the final meeting between the two candidates before early voting in the midterm election begins Oct. 22.
“We’re excited to host this debate at KENS and are working to make sure Texans hear as much as they can from the candidates before Election Day,” stated Jack Acosta, KENS news director.
To assemble the audience at the KENS studio, each campaign was given half of the tickets to distribute, a spokesperson said. The debate will be livestreamed on KENS’ website and Facebook page.
O’Rourke’s campaign is hosting a debate watch party at 7:30 p.m. at Palo Alto College Performing Arts Center with Democrat leaders such as State Sen. Jose Menéndez (D-San Antonio) and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.
Cruz’s campaign is organizing a 5:30 p.m. debate watch party at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, 10223 Sahara Drive. Cruz is expected to make an appearance after the debate.
The Bexar County Democratic Party is hosting a debate watch party from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Friendly Spot Ice House at 943 S. Alamo St.
Ahead of the debate, O’Rourke will speak at a campaign event at 5 p.m. Monday at Plaza Guadalupe, 1327 Guadalupe St.
The Texas Tribune reported that in the first debate at Southern Methodist University, “the candidates exchanged rhetorical blows on just about every single question, showing off sharp differences that have long been evident in the race. But what stood out was O’Rourke’s combative posture toward Cruz after spending his campaign until this point largely ignoring the incumbent and his attacks.”
O’Rourke raised more than three times as much as Cruz (more than $12 million) over the past three months, according to the Tribune. The record-breaking $38.1 million raised by O’Rourke made it the largest fundraising quarter for a U.S. Senate race.
According to KENS, about 85 percent of people who watch television in Texas will be able to view the debate on 11 Texas stations owned by TEGNA:
- KENS (San Antonio)
- KVUE (Austin)
- WFAA (Dallas)
- KHOU (Houston)
- KCEN (Waco)
- KAGS (College Station)
- KYTX (Tyler)
- KIII (Corpus Christi)
- KBMT-KJAC (Beaumont)
- KXVA (Abilene)
- KIDY (San Angelo)
I am looking forward to hearing it. I do hope Cruz will contain his smirks and obvious disdain as it is hard to take. I found the Texas Tribune opinion that Beto O’Rourke had a combative posture toward Cruz a total fabrication, their opinion. I felt like he did extremely well, albeit a bit naive. He is just learning to “fight the good fight”. I personally am sick to death of the end fighting and would love to see us overcome this climate of hate. I urge each and every San Antonian to get out a VOTE no matter what.
I. Hope He sticks to facts and the hate split that is out there tell us
why we should vote for him!
I hope Beto asks Mr. Cruz to explain his legislative contributions since elected (none). Also, explain why Mr. Cruz supports and has voted for the following:
1. Repeal of the ACA, leaving millions without health insurance.
2. The largest tax cut for rich people and rich corporations, with little proven cuts for the middle or lower classes. This was done with virtually no debate and no hearings by tax experts.
3. Sponsored a bill to end protections for pre-existing medical conditions.
That should keep him busy for awhile.
Beto raised most of his money from California and NY- not Texas! He is the national DNC’s Trojan Horse to raise funds for a broke party. RNC at all-time fundraising highs. Beto is a nice guy, but he loses by 15