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Doug Mastriano challenges Josh Shapiro to participate in 2 debates in October

The Republican candidate for governor said the debates should be organized by each campaign, accusing the "mainstream media" of bias against conservative candidates.

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Editor's note: The above video is from July 26.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, issued a challenge to Attorney General Josh Shapiro, inviting his Democratic opponent in the November election to participate in two 90-minute debates in October.

The debates would be organized by both campaigns, Mastriano said.

In his letter to Shapiro, Mastriano said his debate challenge is "designed to give both candidates an even playing field." He claimed the "mainstream media," which traditionally moderates the debates, is biased against his candidacy. 

“Typically, Republican statewide candidates fall prey to the trap of debates that are effectively a two-against-one matchup, in which the mainstream media, who moderate the debates, are unpaid advocates and ideological allies of the Democrat candidates,” Mastriano wrote in the letter.

“I challenge you to two 90-minute debates in the month of October, one at a location of your choosing, and one at a location of my choosing,” Mastriano said in his letter to Shapiro. “Each debate will have two moderators … who will be allowed an equal number of questions asked of each candidate. The topics for the debates can be open-ended with no limits.”

Update, 3:45 p.m. Will Simons, a spokesperson for the Shapiro campaign, issued the following statement in response to Mastriano's challenge Tuesday afternoon:

“Doug Mastriano’s unserious proposal is an obvious stunt to avoid any real questions about his extreme agenda and record of conduct by dictating his own rules for debates. Mastriano has spent his entire campaign refusing to answer questions from local outlets across Pennsylvania – refusing to leave his echo chamber of extremists on alt-right media.

“In Pennsylvania, there is a long history of media outlets and independent moderators asking candidates of both parties fair, direct questions about their track records and plans if elected – nobody gets to pick their own moderators or set their own terms. 

“It’s unfortunate that Doug Mastriano has recklessly decided to blow up good faith debate negotiations with media outlets across the Commonwealth. If he’s ever ready to step up and finally answer questions about his reckless agenda, we look forward to comparing Josh Shapiro’s long record of bringing people together and delivering results for Pennsylvanians with Mastriano’s record of dangerous extremism.”

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