Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Williams on Thursday challenged his Republican opponent Patrick Morrisey to a debate about “the issues facing voters in West Virginia.”
“The people of West Virginia deserve a leader who is not afraid to answer difficult questions,” Williams said in a press release.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, Morrisey’s campaign manager Jonathan Ewing indicated that the Republican would be willing to participate in a debate. Neither campaign team immediately responded to questions about where and when a debate might take place.
“Patrick Morrisey has always made it clear that he will debate and discuss his strong record in fighting for West Virginians. Our campaign looks forward to showing voters the clear contrast between Patrick’s bold vision for the Mountain State and a politician associated with the failed policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
Williams has been mayor of Huntington for over a decade and is a former member of the House of Representatives.
Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General since 2013, is the clear favorite for the governor’s election. According to a current poll by West Virginia MetroNews from registered voters in West Virginia, Morrisey leads Williams in the race for governor by 49% to 35%.
Morrisey and Williams recently spoke with leading business representatives of the state about their respective plans for the state during back-to-back speeches at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and business summit at the Greenbrier.
The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 5th.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a response from Patrick Morrisey’s campaign.
