Lisa Hermosillo

District 38 House candidate Lisa Hermosillo has issued a statement to correct the record regarding a local legislative debate this fall that did not take place.

District 38 Rep. Dan Ruby, R-Minot, had stated District 38 Republicans declined to participate in a debate opportunity offered by a local media outlet after learning Democrats had requested the debate and because of a desire to take the district’s campaign in a different direction.

Hermosillo, who is the lone Democratic-NPL candidate in District 38, said Democrats never contacted the media outlet to encourage organization of a debate. She said she did contact a different organization that has hosted debates in the past, but the organization opted not to hold a legislative debate.

Another local organization had proposed a pre-primary debate for House and Senate candidates in Districts 38 and 40. According to that group, only one candidate responded affirmatively to participating. Three of four District 40 candidates had scheduling conflicts and one Republican couldn’t be reached. In District 38, where a race existed in the Republican column, Republican Lisa Olson confirmed participation. Hermosillo was unable to attend and of the three remaining Republicans, only Ruby could be reached, and he declined.

“It is very frustrating to see the lack of effort put forth by my House 38 GOP opponents to commit to a debate this entire election season,” Hermosillo said. “Voters’ ability to hear directly from their candidates is crucial and can significantly impact their ability to make well-informed decisions this November.”