Rep. Tammy Duckworth will not appear at next week's WTTW Democratic Senate Primary Debate.
Duckworth spokesman Matt McGrath told Ward Room, ”Debate season is done.”
The WTTW debate is a traditional pre-election venue for the candidates in high-profile races. This year that includes the U.S. Senate and Cook County State's Attorney contests.
Duckworth's campaign staff had reached out to WTTW earlier in the campaign to schedule a debate date, according to WTTW staff, but as the March 15 primary drew closer, Duckworth refused to commit.
In January, Duckworth's opponent, Andrea Zopp, accused the congresswoman of “ducking" debates. The Duckworth campaign points out Mark Kirk has not debated his opponent and Duckworth has had three joint appearances with her opponents.
Duckworth, Zopp and state Sen. Napoleon Harris previously engaged in three debates. These included a League of Women Voters of Illinois Debate as well as editorial board endorsement sessions with the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.
According to a Lincoln Park Strategies poll conducted Feb. 4-7, Duckworth received 64 percent of votes while Urban League CEO Andrea Zopp receive 6 percent and Harris received 3 percent.
An additional poll, conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, found Duckworth receiving 52 percent of support from self-identified Democrats with Zopp receiving 6 percent and Harris receiving 4 percent.
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Duckworth, Zopp and Harris will face off in the March 15 Democratic primary.
Incumbent Mark Kirk and Oswego businessman James Marter will face off in the March 15 Republican primary.
