The Katie Britt campaign for Senate announced on Wednesday that Britt will not be participating in any of the planned debates ahead of the Republican primary runoff for U.S. Senate. Her opponent, Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL05), accused Britt of hypocritically flip-flopping on her previous debate pledge.
The Alabama Republican Party-sanctioned Nexstar debate was to have been syndicated on 5 TV stations throughout the state, along with a televised debate hosted by WTVM Channel 13 in Birmingham and a statewide syndicated debate hosted by Gray TV and Alabama Daily News. Mike Durant, who at one time was the leader in the polls in this race, also refused to debate and was denounced by Britt for his decision. Now Durant is out, and Britt is the frontrunner and has adopted the same anti-debate stance.
"Katie Britt’s flip-flops are too numerous to count,” Brooks said. “In the primary, she said a candidate who won’t debate should not get any citizen’s vote. Now, yet again, she flip-flops as she gets more shrill, more negative and more vitriolic. While I disagree with 'June' Katie Britt, I agree with 'April' Katie Britt. If she is too weak to stand on a stage and take Mo Brooks on, how can anyone expect her to take on Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders or any of the other Socialist Democrats that are destroying America? Katie Britt’s debate refusal is an admission of profound weakness at a time America needs fighters in the U.S. Senate, not pushovers. As my record reflects, I am exactly the fighter America needs at this critical juncture in history.”
Brooks campaign spokesman Will Hampson added, “Katie Britt claims to be MAGA, but could you imagine President Trump being too scared to debate? Britt doesn’t want to debate because she'd have to answer for having supported higher taxes, abortifacients for teenagers and her years as an open borders Chamber of Commerce lobbyist. Britt is hiding because she’s scared of her record, but Mo Brooks is proud of his and is ready to debate her anytime, anywhere. If she ever gets permission to debate from Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger and her other RINO funders, she’ll know where to find us.”
The Katie Britt for Senate campaign scoffed at the Brooks campaign remarks.
"Mo Brooks doesn’t want a debate; he wants a circus,” said Britt spokesman Sean Ross. “That’s the only thing he’s capable of. He doesn’t want to talk about his do-nothing record, because he hasn’t accomplished anything for Alabamians throughout his 40 years living off the taxpayer dime. Instead, Mo Brooks will undoubtedly resort to embarrassing our state with false, desperate, personal attacks. We are seeing his lies get more blatant by the day, and there is no way that a constructive or substantive debate can occur with his continually devolving behavior. Katie won’t participate in the final circus act of Mo’s career — she will continue to work tirelessly and travel to every corner of Alabama to share her conservative message, listen to Alabamians and answer their questions. Alabamians are rallying behind Katie’s campaign because they want fresh blood, and they know she is the best candidate to defend our Christian conservative values, fight for the America First agenda and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.” rittreceived Katie Britt received 45% of the vote in the May 24 Republican primary. With Tuesday’s news that Durant will not endorse anyone in this race, Britt appears reluctant to take any risks – especially when she and her allies are outspending Brooks.
The primary runoff will be on June 21.
The eventual Republican nominee will then face Democrat Dr. Will Boyd and Libertarian John Sophocleus on Nov. 8 general election.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
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