Gov. Walz agrees to 2 more debates with challenger Jensen

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz agreed Saturday to two additional debates against Scott Jensen, following complaints from the Republican challenger that Walz is ducking him.

The candidates will meet for an October 18 debate with another debate scheduled for October 28 on Minnesota Public Radio.

Jensen called Walz’s announcement “a classic case of too little, too late” because early voting begins next week. Jensen, a former state senator, and Walz previously debated at Farmfest, a yearly agricultural expo near Redwood Falls.

The Walz campaign said that three debates is the same number of forums “that were held in the U.S. Senate elections won by Amy Klobuchar in 2018 and Tina Smith in both 2018 and 2020.”

Both debates will be streamed online, according to Walz’s campaign.