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SALT LAKE CITY — The campaign to fill outgoing Rep. Chris Stewart's 2nd Congressional District seat is going local, with debates across 10 different counties scheduled over a 12-day period later this month.
But a miscommunication between candidates leaves it unclear if all three will participate.
Republican convention winner Celeste Maloy previously called for a series of debates to take place across the district — which stretches from the southwest corner of the state north to Salt Lake County — and her campaign on Tuesday sent out a statement claiming all three GOP primary candidates would participate.
But former state lawmaker Becky Edwards' campaign later told KSL NewsRadio that she had not confirmed her participation. Still, they wouldn't say whether she is definitely in or out on any or all of the debates.
Maloy told KSL.com on Tuesday that she had spoken with Edwards over the weekend and took comments from Edwards' to mean that she had committed to participating. Maloy said she texted her team to inform them of Edwards' perceived commitment prior to the statement being released. She called the episode an "unfortunate miscommunication" that wasn't meant to back Edwards into a corner.
"It was a miscommunication on my part, I guess, not an attempt to block Becky in," Maloy said.
"We want to make it right," she added, saying that she would still love to see all three candidates on the debate stage together.
Edwards and longtime national Republican committeeman Bruce Hough both qualified for the ballot by gathering signatures. Hough's camp confirmed participation in the 10 debates.
Here's the full schedule of debates, which Maloy's campaign called "unprecedented in modern Utah political history":
- Friday, Aug. 4, at 6:30 p.m., Farmington City Building, 160 S. Main, Farmington
- Saturday, Aug. 5, at 6 p.m., Washington County School District Offices, 121 W. Tabernacle, St. George
- Monday, Aug. 7, at 6 p.m., Kanab Center, 20 N. 100 East, Kanab
- Tuesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m., Panguitch High School, 390 E. 100 South, Panguitch
- Wednesday Aug. 9, at 6 p.m., Church Auditorium at Southern Utah University Student Center
- Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m., Beaver Opera House, 81 E. Center Street, Beaver
- Friday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m., Delta High School, 50 W. 300 North Road, Delta
- Saturday, Aug. 12, at 6 p.m., Sevier Valley Center, 800 W. 200 South, Richfield
- Monday, Aug. 14, at 6 p.m., Grantsville Fire Station, 26 N. Center Street, Grantsville
Moderators for these debates will field questions from audience members in attendance. Following these nine debates, KSL will host the 10th and final debate in Salt Lake County which will be televised across the state.
The primary election will be held Sept. 5.
Contributing: Lindsay Aerts
