Denver City Wire

Colorado gubernatorial candidates incumbent Democrat Gov. Jared Polis and Republican Heidi Ganahl are invited to debate in-person for the first time on Wednesday, Sept. 28, even though Polis didn’t show for the first debate on Sept. 10.

The debate will take place at 6 p.m. CDT at Colorado State University-Pueblo Occhiato Student Center Ballroom. Hosted by the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, the debate’s moderator will be Sara Blackhurst, CEO of the non-partisan public policy organization Action22, the Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page said.

Polis didn’t attend the first debate on Sept. 10 in Grand Junction, Colorado, due to a scheduling conflict, Colorado Newsline reported. Western Slope advocacy group Club 20 hosted the event, and membership chair Ray Beck was moderator. 

Other Democratic candidates didn’t show up to debate their Republican opponents at the same event: Secretary of State Jena Griswold against Republican Pam Anderson and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet against Republican Joe O’Dea. 

“As CO Gov, I will show up for the entire state,” Ganahl said on Facebook about the Sept. 10 forum. “It’s unfortunate, but not unexpected, that Jared Polis did NOT show up for our 1st debate. The Western Slope deserves better! I will protect our water rights, farmers & ranchers, and get our energy industry back to work.”

Polis didn’t respond to an inquiry about where he was during the Sept. 10 debate and didn’t confirm whether he will attend the next debate on Sept. 28.

"Our board and staff are excited to take on the responsibility for providing election debates to help our community better know the candidates they will be voting for later in the fall," Duane Nava, president and CEO for the Greater Pueblo Chamber, said on Facebook. “It is vital that the candidates make themselves available to appear and debate in Pueblo to show their commitment to Pueblo and Southern Colorado, and we are pleased that the response so far has been positive." 

Ganahl, a member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents, defeated Greg Lopez in the Republican primary in June and will face off against Polis in the general election on Tuesday, Nov.  8.