Iowa 2nd Congressional District debate in Cedar Rapids is confirmed

UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION:

We've received word from both major party candidates for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District seat that they'll appear at a Gazette/KCRG-TV9 debate in October.

The campaign of Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack confirmed yesterday (Thursday, Aug. 19) that he'll be there. Republican challenger Mariannette Miller-Meeks' campaign accepted our offer some time ago and reiterated that confirmation today. (Friday, Aug. 20)

The one-hour televised debate will be on Tuesday, Oct. 12, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the KCRG-TV9 studios and it will be open to the public. We still need to work out details of how that will happen because of the amount of available space for seating.

The debate will be broadcast on the television channel KCRG Local 9.2. Loebsack and Miller-Meeks met in a debate at the TV studios two years ago, too.

This is the second debate we've been able to lock up. Democratic Gov. Chet Culver and Republican challenger and former Gov. Terry Branstad have agreed to a debate at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Coe College's Sinclair Auditorium. We're waiting to hear from the campaign of Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley about our invitation to a U.S. Senate candidates' debate at Mount Mercy College on Sunday Oct. 10, by which time the name of the place will have changed to Mount Mercy University. Democratic challenger Roxanne Conlin has accepted. 

For links to campaigns, see

my previous post.