Idaho Democratic candidate Peterson challenges Republican Fulcher, independent Zabel to debate

Idaho Democrat and District 1 congressional candidate Kaylee Peterson announced Wednesday she has invited incumbent U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher and independent Sarah Zabel to a public debate in October. 

The debate is set for 6-8 p.m. Mountain Time on Oct. 17 with an option to attend in-person or virtually. Peterson’s campaign said in a press release that she is trying to work with all three campaigns to set a location. 

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Constitution Party candidate in the race, Brendan Gomez, was not included in the press release about the debate; the Peterson campaign could not be reached for a comment as to whether he was invited. 

Peterson has run against Fulcher twice before in 2022 and 2024. She said in the press release he has declined her past invitations to debate. 

“Idahoans in this district haven’t had a real debate in years, so we built one ourselves,” Peterson said in the press release. “This (debate) series has always been about giving voters direct access to the people asking for their vote. Now that Sarah Zabel has entered the race, it’s only right she has a seat at the table too. My invitation to Congressman Fulcher stands, just as it has for four years. Idahoans deserve to hear from all of us, together, in the same room.”

Fulcher could not be reached for comment. 

The press release said that if Fulcher is unable or declines to attend, “the campaign will proceed using his public testimony and record, and his cardboard cutout, so Idaho voters get the direct comparison they deserve regardless of whether he shows up.” 

Zabel told the Idaho Capital Sun that she plans to attend the debate. 

“I want the people of this district to hire me to do a job, and so of course I will make my case to them in every forum I can find,” Zabel said in an email. 

The three candidates and Gomez will appear on ballots for the Nov. 3 general election