See below for a statement by AARP Virginia and also some reactions, after AARP Virginia was forced to cancel its 2025 People’s Debate due to Winsome Earle-Sears declining the invitation, her excuse being a “scheduling conflict.” Meanwhile, ” Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s campaign accepted the debate invitation on behalf of the Democratic nominee in July.”
AARP Virginia Cancels 2025 People’s Debate
RICHMOND _ AARP Virginia announced has cancelled the 2025 People’s Debate.
The afternoon of August 13, Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears, the current Lieutenant Governor, declined the invitation due to a scheduling conflict. Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s campaign accepted the debate invitation on behalf of the Democratic nominee in July.
The People’s Debate was scheduled for September 16 on the campus of Virginia State University in Petersburg. AARP Virginia has traditionally sponsored the People’s Debate, the most widely broadcast television debate in Virginia, for gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. CBS 6 (WTVR-TV) was to produce the debate, with anchor Bill Fitzgerald as moderator. The candidates would have answered questions from a panel of representatives of AARP Virginia and Virginia State University, with additional questions from ABC 7 (WJLA-TV) and Norfolk’s WTKR-TV (CBS 3).
“Voters of all ages and from all backgrounds all across Virginia deserved the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates about what they would do on important issues, and the People’s Debate was their best chance to do that,” said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. “We’re disappointed that voters won’t be able to hear the candidates’ plans to rein in the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, support family caregivers, and help our state’s most vulnerable people by improving the quality of nursing home care.”
Since 2006, AARP Virginia and Richmond’s CBS 6 have held the People’s Debate for statewide election races. This year, they also engaged Virginia State University, which had been scheduled to host a 2024 presidential debate, to host the event, as well as ABC 7 in Arlington and WTKR-TV as broadcast partners.
“Virginia voters lost a tremendous opportunity to get the information they need to make their own choices in filling out their ballots,” said Dau. “AARP Virginia will continue our decades of nonpartisan work to make sure that candidates hear from and address voters about the issues important to them in communities across the state and through our wide-reaching communications platforms.”
AARP is the largest organization working on behalf of people age 50 and older and their families in the Commonwealth. To learn more about AARP Virginia, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aarpvirginia and follow @AARPVa on X at www.X.com/aarpva.
About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, www.aarp.org/español or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.
VA State Senator Lashrecse Aird: “I represent the communities around @VSU_1882 . @WinsomeSears just bailed on debating @SpanbergerForVA there. They were ready, deserved and were looking forward to it. Winsome and @GlennYoungkin talk a big game about Petersburg voters but now, when it counts, won’t show up.”
