Cunningham proposes new gov debate date after McLeod criticizes SC Democrat in video
South Carolina Democrat Joe Cunningham said Thursday he’s willing to debate state Sen. Mia McLeod, proposing a June 10 date after the Richland Democrat accused Cunningham of using excuses to get out of participating in a governor’s race debate.
Should McLeod and all parties agree — June 10 is the weekend of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s convention in Columbia — the debate would be scheduled four days before Election Day and right as the state’s early-voting period ends.
“I’ve debated every opponent I’ve ever had and that’s not going to change this year,” Cunningham tweeted Thursday. “Since all 5 candidates for governor will be in Columbia for convention weekend, how about a televised debate Friday night before the Blue Palmetto Dinner? I’ll be the first to commit. Who’s in?”
McLeod’s campaign and the senator did not immediately respond to Cunningham’s proposal.
Late Thursday, the South Carolina Democratic Party issued a statement that said it will sanction a debate ahead of the primary to be hosted by South Carolina ETV and the Charleston Post and Courier. Details will be released by the broadcast partners, the party said.
“The staff of the SCDP has continued to work to negotiate a debate. We are excited that the people of South Carolina will get to hear from our candidates for Governor,” Chairman Trav Robertson said in a statement. “Most important, we look forward to them displaying their vision for a better South Carolina.”
McLeod challenged Cunningham to a televised debate earlier this week after she claimed the former Lowcountry congressman ducked out of a June 1 forum for unspecified reasons.
The June 1 debate, to be hosted by South Carolina ETV, fell through after Cunningham’s campaign declined to participate in a debate that wasn’t sanctioned by the South Carolina Democratic Party. Cunningham’s campaign also had concerns that organizers for the June 1 debate had been paid by McLeod’s campaign.
Brandon Upson, the chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, which was set to host the debate, was paid $900 by the McLeod campaign on May 4, according to a May 29 fundraising report. Upson claims the payment was made because he set the McLeod campaign a national email list of roughly 100,000 names that it can use for fundraising.
Five Democrats are on the ballot in the South Carolina governor’s race. They also include Columbia’s Carlton Boyd and Calvin McMillan, and William Williams, of Florence.
This story was originally published June 2, 2022 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Cunningham proposes new gov debate date after McLeod criticizes SC Democrat in video."
