Three Republicans running for state Assembly in La Crosse — Oldenburg, Huebsch, Schnitzler — cite “scheduling conflicts” in declining to debate Democrats. Only Pfaff-Klein debate for Senate happening

Only one local debate will be happening when it comes to Wisconsin elections.

On Oct 16, Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) will debate Republican challenger Stacey Klein for District 32, and will broadcast on WIZM.

Republicans in all three La Crosse-area state Assembly districts have declined to debate, citing “scheduling conflicts.”

Republican state Rep. Loren Oldenburg (Viroqua) of the 96th District, along with his GOP candidates, Ryan Huebsch (Onalaska – 94th District) and Cedric Schnitzler (La Crosse – 95th District), have all declined to debate their Democratic opponents.

Democratic incumbents Jill Billings (95th) and Steve Doyle (94th), plus candidate Tara Johnson (96th) had all agreed to participate.

The Wisconsin state Legislature has continuously adjourned itself from sessions for the last 7-8 months of each two-year term to campaign. The Legislature has been off since March — except for one day in April when just the Senate met.

No word on whether there will be a debate for US House in the 3rd District. It’s unclear whether either Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden or Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke has even called for a debate.

Van Orden refused to debate two years ago when he was running for an open seat against Pfaff.

The Pfaff-Klein debate will be hosted by UW-La Crosse, the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of the La Crosse Area. It will not be open to the public, but will run in its entirety, unedited.