ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland says she will not debate Republican Gregg Hull before the November election, ending months of negotiations and leaving New Mexico voters without a head-to-head debate between the two major-party candidates.
Hull, meanwhile, says he still plans to appear Oct. 8 for a previously scheduled KOB debate, even if Haaland does not participate. KOB has said that unless Haaland changes her schedule, the broadcast could instead proceed as a conversation with Hull alone.
KOB began trying to arrange the debate immediately after the June 2 primary. Hull agreed to participate June 3, while Haaland agreed later that month, according to the station. Hull proposed Oct. 5 or 6, while Haaland proposed Oct. 12. KOB ultimately selected Oct. 8 as a compromise between the campaigns’ preferred dates.
The station said neither campaign initially identified Oct. 8 as a date that would not work. KOB announced the debate several weeks in advance, but Haaland’s campaign later said she had a scheduling conflict and would not participate. The campaign did not publicly detail the conflict when asked by the station, according to KOB.
Haaland’s campaign later proposed Oct. 12, 13 or 14 for a statewide debate involving multiple New Mexico media organizations. Hull rejected those dates, arguing a debate should be held closer to the beginning of early voting.
Haaland campaign manager Dylan McArthur said the campaign had held eight possible debate dates since July and accused Hull of being unwilling to agree to them. The campaign subsequently ended negotiations, saying Haaland would instead travel the state, meet with voters and participate in media interviews.
Hull’s campaign disputes Haaland’s account, pointing to his willingness to participate in multiple debates. Hull spokesman Ryan Saylor said the Republican still plans to appear at KOB at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 as scheduled.
KRQE also invited both candidates to an early October debate. Hull accepted the invitation, while Haaland declined. Other New Mexico media organizations have also sought to arrange a debate between the candidates, but no agreement has been reached.
The disagreement could leave voters without a televised gubernatorial debate for the first time in 20 years. New Mexico’s major-party candidates debated twice in the 2022 governor’s race and three times in 2018. The last gubernatorial election without a televised debate between the major-party nominees was in 2006.
The timing also places the dispute close to voting. Early voting begins Oct. 6, two days before the KOB event, while Election Day is Nov. 3.
For now, KOB says the Oct. 8 event remains on the calendar. Hull says he will be there. Haaland says she will not.
