A debate in Virginia‘s 7th Congressional District scheduled for this week is now in jeopardy after Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) reportedly pulled out of the event due to one of the moderators.
Spanberger had concerns about conservative talk show host Larry O’Connor being named as co-moderator for the event alongside PBS NewsHour’s Lisa Desjardins.
“So, in a last-ditch effort to protect their candidate, Vega’s team insisted on installing Larry O’Connor — a right-wing radio host known for spreading lies, hyper-partisan vitriol, and hatred against Democrats — as a debate moderator. This effort came after they rejected multiple experienced, nonpartisan moderators with a record of moderating debates,” a statement from the Spanberger campaign said.
The host of WMAL Radio’s O’Connor and Company said Monday the announcement came out of nowhere.
“Spanberger never reached out to me, never said anything to me, and just starts sliming me in the media.”
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He has now offered to step away from the event in the hopes that Spanberger and her challenger, Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega (R-VA), will discuss the issues.
O’Connor said this really is about Spanberger not wanting to be part of the debate.
“The last thing she wants is to be on the stage with Yesli Vega, and the second to last thing she wants is to be actually asked challenging questions by someone who disagrees with her politically. So she’s using me. She’s using me as an excuse, and it’s kind of disgusting.”
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Vega, also appearing on WMAL, said she’s still hoping the debate will happen.
“It would be nice if she had the courage to take the stage with me this coming Friday. The invitation is still open,” Vega said.
“She is running scared and quite frankly, doesn’t want to debate me,” Vega told WMAL on Monday. “And if I were her, I wouldn’t want to debate me either.”
In the most recent statement Friday, Spanberger accused Vega of not wanting to take part.
“Abigail has been clear: she wants to debate the issues, just as she has in her prior two campaigns. She is disappointed that her opponent has backed out of multiple debates and forums, tried to tip the scales in her direction, and attempted to turn a nonpartisan community event into a political game. Virginians deserve a good-faith debate on the issues impacting their lives, not political theater.”
The Spanberger campaign did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment on whether she will now take part in the debate.
