ETTRICK – Virginia State University may have missed out on getting the presidential candidates to campus last year, but it will be getting Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates to Ettrick this year.

VSU announced last week it has been selected to host “The People’s Debate” sponsored by AARP Virginia on Sept. 16 at the VSU Multi-Purpose Center. The People’s Debate is Virginia’s oldest and most widely broadcast statewide face-off, according to AARP.

As it stands now, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears are the purported nominees who will take part. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, has hinted he may oppose his former congressional colleague for the party nod, but as of Monday, he had not made anything official.

Conservative Merle Rutledge Jr., says he is running for the GOP nomination against Earle-Sears, Virginia’s lieutenant governor. However, Rutledge has been unable to gain traction among party leadership, all of whom have endorsed Earle-Sears.

In a statement, VSU said it was “excited” to host the debate.

“VSU remains committed to providing a platform for political discourse and engagement,” university president Dr. Makola M. Abdullah said in the statement. “This is a proud moment for our university, and we look forward to offering our venue for this meaningful dialogue that will help voters make an informed decision about Virginia’s next governor.”

Gubernatorial hopefuls hosted last election

This marks the second straight election cycle that VSU has hosted a gubernatorial forum. Four years ago, in April 2021, the school hosted a Democratic debate featuring the five candidates running for the nomination at the time.

It also is a bit of a political acknowledgement for VSU after the presidential debate it was set to host last October was cancelled after former president Joe Biden declined to take part in the series sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. Had it gone off as planned, VSU would have been the first historical black college and university [HBCU] to have a debate on its campus.

The People’s Debate has been in existence since 2006.

“AARP Virginia has worked for decades to make sure voters have the information they need to make their own choices when casting their ballots,” AARP Virginia state director Jim Dau said in the VSU statement. “Nothing is more meaningful to voters than hearing directly from the people vying to represent them. The People’s Debate gives the candidates a unique opportunity to speak directly to voters and weigh in on the issues that matter most to them.”

The forum will be produced and broadcast by WTVR-TV Channel 6, Richmond’s CBS affiliate.

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