Congressman Cline’s Democratic opponent in the 2026 election has challenged him to a series of debates.
Democratic Congressional candidate Beth Macy challenged Republican incumbent Rep. Ben Cline to three debates before the Nov. 3 election.
Macy, who is running to unseat Cline in the Virginia’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, proposed three in-person debates, one each in Roanoke, Harrisonburg and Winchester, to be held between Sept. 25 and Nov. 1.
Macy said in a statement:
“Public debates are a cornerstone of democratic elections. They allow voters to hear directly from candidates, compare positions on the issues and evaluate how candidates respond to questions and differing viewpoints. Debates promote transparency and accountability by giving candidates a public forum to explain their priorities and records, helping voters make informed decisions before casting their ballots—values I hope Ben Cline and I both share.”
Macy proposed that both candidates agree on event hosts, neutral locations, qualified moderators and debate formats. She requested that questions come from voter submissions, so the discussion focuses on issues voters care about most. Macy proposed the debates through certified mail to Cline’s campaign and requested a response by Aug. 24.
Congressman Cline: If you agree to these debates (not simply “candidate forums”), I won’t bug you anymore about the 22 town hall meetings you’ve promised.
Deal?
Cline Watch 