No Southeast debates for Young, Murkowski

Neither of Alaska’s incumbent U.S. Republicans will participate in a Southeast debate ahead of this fall’s general election.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, will participate in five candidate forums and debates ahead of the general election, his campaign announced Tuesday. All will be in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and only one will be televised statewide.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, will also appear in that televised debate, which is hosted by Alaska Public Media and will take place Nov. 3. That debate will also be broadcast on public radio statewide.

So far, the Nov. 3 debate is the only one confirmed to feature all four main candidates for U.S. Senate: Murkowski, Democrat Ray Metcalfe, Libertarian Joe Miller and independent Margaret Stock. Associated Press reporter Becky Bohrer confirmed the attendance of all four.

Murkowski is also scheduled to attend a fisheries debate Oct. 12, in Kodiak, the Alaska Federation of Natives forum Oct. 21 in Fairbanks, and an Arctic debate Oct. 26 in Barrow.

Young, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives, faces Democratic challenger Steve Lindbeck, Libertarian Jim McDermott, and independent Bernie Souphanavong. Two write-in candidates have also registered.

Young’s first appearance will be at the Oct. 17 Anchorage Chamber of Commerce candidate forum. He will follow that with an Oct. 20 appearance at the Alaska Forest Association and Resource Development Council debate, also in Anchorage.

On the following day, he will travel to Fairbanks for the Alaska Federation of Natives candidate forum.

On Oct. 24, he will appear at the Fairbanks Chamber of commerce candidate forum.

His final appearance will be on Alaska Public Media’s Debate for the State.

The election is Nov. 8. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 9.

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