WILMINGTON, DE — According to sources at the University of Delaware, the University has cancelled its traditional biennial general-election debate program for the first time since Delaware Debates launched in 2010, leaving Delaware without University-sponsored debates for its U.S. Senate and U.S. House races.
Dr. Mike Katz, former Democratic Delaware State Senator and now the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, called the cancellation a serious loss for voters and challenged Senator Chris Coons to a professionally moderated, televised one-on-one debate.
"Delaware voters deserve better. Senator Coons and I are asking Delawareans to entrust one of only 100 United States Senate seats to us. They deserve to see us on the same stage, answering the same difficult questions and defending our records, policies and solutions."
Katz called on Delaware Republican Party Chair Gene Truono and Delaware Democratic Party Chair Evelyn Brady to put partisan politics aside and jointly organize a professionally moderated, televised Katz-Coons debate.
"This is an opportunity to put people over party. I am asking Chairman Truono and Chair Brady to work together and give Delaware voters the debate they deserve. Invite Delaware's television, radio and news organizations to participate, put both candidates on the same stage and let the people decide."
Katz said the issue extends beyond either candidate or political party.
"This is bigger than Mike Katz or Chris Coons. It is bigger than Republicans and Democrats. This is about accountability and whether Delawareans have a meaningful opportunity to question, compare, and scrutinize the people asking to represent them."
Katz said he repeatedly hears Delawareans express a troubling sense of disconnection from their government.
"People tell me, 'My vote does not count. My voice does not matter. Nothing ever changes.' Whether we agree with that conclusion or not, we should be concerned when citizens feel that way. Political power belongs to the people. Elected officials only borrow it."
Katz said individual interviews provide useful information, but cannot replace the accountability of candidates appearing together, facing the same questions and defending their records and proposals in real time.
"Senator Coons has represented Delaware in Washington for nearly 16 years. Voters are the employers. They deserve a job-performance review of the person who has represented them and a direct comparison with the person asking to replace him. Put us side-by-side. Ask us the difficult questions. Let Delawareans judge the answers."
Katz, a pediatric critical care anesthesiologist, said informed decisions depend on reliable information and meaningful choices.
"As a physician, I have spent my career making consequential decisions based on the best available information. Patients deserve to understand their choices before making important decisions about their lives, and voters deserve to be fully informed before making an important decision about their government. Informed choice is vital to good medicine, and an informed electorate is vital to representative government."
Katz said the cancellation is particularly concerning when political power has become increasingly concentrated.
"History teaches us that power requires checks. The more concentrated political power becomes, the more important competition, transparency, a free press and public scrutiny become. No individual, political party or institution entrusted with power should become insulated from scrutiny or accountability. Unchecked power leaves voters powerless."
Katz said the debate challenge reflects the principle at the center of his campaign: People Over Party.
"I have served Delaware as a Democratic State Senator; I have been an Independent, and today I am running on the Republican ticket. My principle has not changed. I do not work for a political party. I work for the people of Delaware. Political power belongs to the people, and elected officials are temporarily entrusted with it."
Katz also called on the University of Delaware, other institutions of higher education, and Delaware's news organizations to provide a forum.
"I am ready to debate Senator Coons anytime, anywhere in Delaware, before a fair and professional moderator. There is still time. Let us stand side-by-side, answer the same questions and defend our records and solutions directly to the people."
"Give Delawareans the debate. Give them the facts. Let them see us side-by-side. Then trust the people to decide."
About Dr. Mike Katz Dr. Mike Katz is the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in Delaware. A pediatric critical care anesthesiologist, business executive, former Delaware State Senator, and nationally recognized healthcare leader, Dr. Katz has dedicated more than three decades to serving Delaware families through medicine, business leadership, and public service. He and his wife, Trish, have called Delaware home for thirty years, where they raised their family. His campaign is focused on restoring accountability, strengthening Delaware's economy, supporting law enforcement and veterans, defending agriculture, securing America's borders, protecting constitutional freedoms, making America healthy again, and always putting Delaware first.
Media Contact Hunter Dworsky, Executive Director (Campaign Manager) Hunter@drmikekatz.com