Abbott, Davis Debate Schedule Comes Together

The schedule for the gubernatorial debates between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis is finally coming together. On Thursday afternoon, the candidates agreed on a joint appearance Sept. 19 in McAllen. Both campaigns have already agreed to one debate in Dallas on Sept. 30.

Thus concludes the weeks-long debate about the debates.

Davis originally declined the Sept. 19 date proposed by the Abbott campaign for the debate hosted by The McAllen Monitor, Telemundo and NBC, saying she had already agreed to appear at The Texas Tribune Festival on that date. Her campaign proposed 10 alternative dates for a debate in the Rio Grande Valley, which the Abbott camp declined.

In a letter to the editor of the McAllen Monitor published Thursday morning, Abbott campaign manager Wayne Hamilton wrote, “If state Sen. Davis’ goal is truly to participate in more debates, then petitioning to change the date of her TribFest appearance — which is not a candidate debate — seems the more practical course of action.” Both Abbott and Davis were invited in March to speak at TribFest. Davis accepted; Abbott declined.

The Davis camp announced Thursday that the Democratic candidate would instead appear at TribFest on Sept. 20, and accused Abbott of "petulant intransigence" when it came to settling the debate schedule. The Davis campaign had proposed a minimum of six debates while the Abbott camp agreed to two.

"It has always been the intention of Wendy Davis to participate in as many debates and forums as possible,” campaign spokesman Zac Petkanas said in a statement.