U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) backed out of an Oct. 14 debate against Republican challenger John Deaton, according to Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale.
WCVB Channel 5 scheduled the debate in March.
“Senator Markey just canceled his debate with WCVB Channel 5 that was scheduled by the station in March of this year for October 14th,” Carnevale said in a press release.
Deaton said last month that he had accepted four televised debate offers. Those included an Oct. 13 WBZ-TV debate, the Oct. 14 WCVB debate and offers from Boston 25 and WWLP in Springfield.
Carnevale said Markey dropped the WCVB debate because it would have been one night after the WBZ debate.
“Voters deserve answers, not a disappearing incumbent,” Carnevale said. “The question is, if he cannot do back-to-back debates, can he handle being a Senator?”
Deaton’s campaign hadn’t posted anything about the cancellation early Tuesday afternoon.
However, Deaton criticized Markey last week for not committing to more debates.
“Ed Markey was ‘ready’ to debate me until it was time to actually do it,” Deaton said. “This isn’t complicated. Set the dates. Send the invitations. If he shows up, we debate. If he doesn’t, the empty podium tells voters everything they need to know.”
Markey told WBZ-TV in June that he wanted to debate Deaton.
“I’m ready to debate Seth Moulton, and in the fall I’m ready to debate Mr. Deaton as well,” Markey said at the time. “I’m ready to go.”
Markey skipped a June debate between Deaton and then-Democratic primary challenger U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). He later did three Democratic primary debates against Moulton.
Markey, 80, beat Moulton in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary. Deaton ran unopposed in the Republican primary.
Deaton, an attorney and former U.S. Marine, ran against U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in 2024. He got just over 40% of the vote.
Carnevale said Markey’s decision comes as voting is about to start.
“With mail ballots going out now, skipping the stage is not leadership,” Carnevale said. “John Deaton is ready. Senator Markey should be too.”
The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3. Massachusetts will offer early voting from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30.