Gosar Pulls Out of Only Debate with Kirkpatrick

Paul Refuses to Debate Before Election to Avoid Defending Out-of-Touch Positions

PRESCOTT, AZ – Paul Gosar this morning pulled out of the only debate he had agreed to with Ann Kirkpatrick. He once again chose to hide from the tough questions instead of defending his out-of-touch positions like his pledge to protect tax loopholes for companies shipping American jobs overseas [link], his questions about whether Social Security is constitutional [link] or his record of failing to pay his taxes on time 12 times, 8 years in a row.


Gosar had ducked every single proposed neutral-ground, in-district debate and committed to just 30 minutes of debate on KAET TV in Phoenix to be held on October 21st. This morning, Gosar managed the paltry excuse that a car trip wasn’t worth the effort, leaving the voters of Greater Arizona no chance to see him and Kirkpatrick in a true debate before Election Day.

While Gosar's staff has repeatedly claimed that he is eager to debate, Paul has bailed on joint appearances with Ann before, pulling out of their editorial board meeting with the Arizona Republic [link] and withdrawing from an appearance on Channel 3 after learning that Ann would be there, too. And of course, Gosar never responded to Ann's proposal for four other debates across District One in Prescott, Flagstaff, Casa Grande and Show Low, and has declined to join her at tonight’s GCC forum in Globe, where the two of them would have taken questions from audience members.

Gosar himself has offered any number of excuses for not debating, saying at times that debates confine the issues and limit audience participation, at other times that District One's communities are too isolated to debate in, and now that in the tenth largest congressional district in the country, a car trip makes it impossible to debate.

Is there anyone that actually still believes him? It's clear now that Paul just does not want to have to defend either the many views he holds [link] that are alarming to Greater Arizona's working families or his arrogant insistence that the rules don’t apply to him when it comes time to pay his taxes.

"Paul Gosar is dodging debates because he realizes that the more people learn about his frightening views, the more they will unite behind Ann Kirkpatrick," said Kirkpatrick campaign manager Carmen Gallus. "Arizonans won't stand for anyone pushing to take away their Social Security benefits or fighting for big corporations that are killing American jobs and they’re certainly not going to put their trust in a man who ducks the truth about his failure to pay his taxes on time 12 times, 8 years in a row. What you don't know will hurt you - and there's a lot about Paul Gosar that he clearly doesn't want folks to know."

Ann Kirkpatrick has never shied away from the difficult discussions. She participated in 22 debates or forums when running for this seat in 2024, and in Congress has participated in town halls in Holbrook, Coolidge, Globe, Casa Grande, and a Tea Party-hosted forum in Prescott, along with her 14 tele-town halls.

Background:

Since the Republican primary on August 24, Paul Gosar has made a deliberate effort to hide himself from the public and appear only in front of friendly crowds:

Aug. 25 – Ann Kirkpatrick proposes 5 debates. [link]

Aug. 25 - Gosar campaign manager J.P. Twist tells the Prescott Daily Courier that Gosar definitely will participate in debates, although it's too early to say how many and when. [link] Twist also confirms to the Arizona Daily Sun that Gosar will debate Kirkpatrick and just has not yet had a chance to confirm when, where or how many times, saying "we want to be able to give the voters in CD1 a chance to see both of us head to head." [link]

Aug. 31 - Gosar tells the Flagstaff Tea Party that he doesn't want to debate because it confines the issues and limits audience participation, and he instead wants to go out and talk to individual people. [Flagstaff Tea Party, 8/31]

Sept. 3 – Gosar cancels face-to-face Arizona Republic editorial board meeting due to a "scheduling conflict" - and never reschedules. [link]

Sept. 8 – Gosar campaign manager J.P. Twist calls Kirkpatrick campaign… to ask for another copy of the debate proposal letter, which had been dropped off in person, sent via certified mail AND emailed directly to him. He claims in a release that "we are anxious to debate Kirkpatrick."

Sept. 22 - Gosar commits to KAET television debate in Phoenix for October 21.

Sept. 25 – First proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding.

Sept. 27 – Second proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding.

Oct. 2 – Third proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding.

Oct. 2 – Ann Kirkpatrick participates in Tea Party forum in Prescott with Gosar, their first appearance together and a real illustration of Ann’s commitment to letting the folks of District One know where she stands. [link]

Oct. 4 –Gosar backs out of Channel 3 TV appearance after learning that Ann will be there.

Oct. 9 - Ann Kirkpatrick participates in Arizona Business and Professional Women forum in Casa Grande. Gosar does not attend.

Oct. 12 – Fourth proposed in-district debate goes by as Gosar continues hiding.

Oct. 13 - Gosar tells ABC News he'd love to debate, just not "somewhere in an isolated area where Ms. Kirkpatrick can define the questions." [link]

Oct. 20 - Gosar backs out of KAET TV debate to be held in Phoenix on Oct. 21. Gosar campaign manager J.P Twist tells the Arizona Daily Sun that “It's basically six hours wasted of driving.” [link]

Oct. 20 - Ann will take audience questions at Gila Community College forum in Globe. Gosar will not attend.