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Massachusetts 1st Congressional District Candidates Agree to Debates

The three Democratic candidates in the race for a seat in Congress representing Massachusetts’ 1st District have agreed to a series of debates. WAMC’s Lucas Willard has more…

Congressional candidate and former state senator Andrea Nuciforo recently issued a challenge to his rivals to four regional debates across the new Western Massachusetts district. Mr. Nuciforo mentioned the need for the debates as essential for voters to learn the distinctions between himself and fellow candidate current 2nd District Congressman Richard Neal.

Richard Neal’s campaign supplied WAMC with a written statement in answer to Nuciforo’s challenge saying that he looks forward to discussion with all three candidates in the race. The statement reads in part…

“"It is a well known fact that Congressman Neal has always debated his
political opponents during election years.

He strongly believes the voters of Western and Central Massachusetts
deserve to know his views on the issues they care most about...”

The statement also says that, “…It is now up to the representatives of all three campaigns to work out
the debate logistics."

Fellow democratic candidate Alford writer Bill Shein was not included in Nuciforo’s challenge posted online Tuesday. When asked, Mr. Nuciforo did say that he would welcome all challengers to the debates.  

Shein accepted the challenge but called the invitation “kabuki theater” politics and that several media outlets have already approached the candidates in arranging debates.

All of the candidates have agreed to debates. Nuciforo suggested that the debates should be held in each region of the 1st District, including locations in Hampden, Worcester, Franklin, and Berkshire County.

The democratic primary contest will be held less than two months away, on September 6. Currently, there are no Republican challengers in the race for the seat in the House of Representatives.

Lucas Willard is a reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011.