La Crosse Democratic Party chair Garcia on local Republicans ducking debates, another amendment vote

La Crosse County and Third Congressional District Democratic Party chair, William Garcia, in the WIZM studio Monday for La Crosse Talk, discussing how local Republicans are ducking debating Democrats for Wisconsin state Assembly and US House, plus the state GOP has added another confusing Constitutional Amendment to the November ballot.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-9 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Republican candidates Ryan Huebsch and Cedric Schnitzler and GOP Rep. Loren Oldenburg, cite “scheduling conflicts” for refusing to debate Democratic Reps. Jill Billings and Steve Doyle, as well as candidate Tara Johnson.

In the US House race, Republican Derrick Van Orden has also ignored calls for the second consecutive election to debate his opponent — this time being Rebecca Cooke.

In 2022, Van Orden refused to debate challenger Brad Pfaff. Ironically, it’s Pfaff that has the only local debate for the November election. Garcia gave credit to Republican candidate Stacey Klein for agreeing to debate Sen. Pfaff (D-Onalaska) for District 32.

Garcia also answered calls and texts from listeners.