UPDATED: Millionaire Gosar Pulls Out of Only Debate, Will Sip Wine With Big Donors Instead

PRESCOTT, AZ – This morning, Paul Gosar (R-Wall Street) pulled out of the only debate he had agreed to with Ann Kirkpatrick, with his campaign spokesman saying it would be "six hours wasted of driving." [link] It turns out that the millionaire tax evader feels his time is better spent rubbing elbows with rich donors then driving to a debate to defend his out-of-touch positions.

Instead of debating Ann, Gosar will be sipping wine at a fundraiser in Flagstaff tomorrow night. Event host Bryan Shanahan has promised to open a $200 bottle of Bordeaux if an attendee contributes the maximum $2,400 dollar donation.


"In the last week, Paul Gosar has said Greater Arizona is too isolated for debates* and has complained about long drives in one of the largest districts in the country. He thinks his time is better spent drinking $200 bottles of wine with donors than answering to the voters who make $630 a week," said Kirkpatrick campaign manager Carmen Gallus. "How does he expect anyone to believe that he's really interested in serving District One?"

"He can keep his Bordeaux. Ann would rather actually debate how to create jobs, secure our border and preserve Social Security."

With just 13 days left before Election Day, this debate was set to be one of the last opportunities for Paul to address his pledge to protect tax loopholes for companies shipping American jobs overseas [link], his questions about whether Social Security is constitutional [link], his serious doubts about whether or not there should be a minimum wage [link] or his record of failing to pay his taxes on time 12 times, 8 years in a row.

By the Numbers:

Bottle of 2024 Cos de Estournal Bordeaux: $210
Median Weekly Income in District One: $634

Arizona Minimum Wage: $7.25 an hour
Paul Gosar's Thoughts on Minimum Wage: "Serious Doubts"

"Hours Wasted of Driving" to Debate, According to Gosar Campaign: 6
Hours of Round-Trip Between Flagstaff and Show Low: 5
Hours of Round-Trip Between Flagstaff and Prescott: 3.5
Hours of Round-Trip Between Flagstaff and Casa Grande: 6.5
Hours of Round-Trip Between Flagstaff and Globe: 7.5
Hours of Round-Trip Between Flagstaff and Window Rock: 7

In-District, Neutral Ground Debates Proposed by Ann: 4
In-District, Neutral Ground Debates Agreed to by Paul: 0
Joint Appearances Canceled by Paul Gosar: 3 (that we know of)

Forums, Town Halls and Tele-Town Halls Attended by Ann Since 2024: 42

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