Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez has accepted an invitation to debate her runoff opponent, Andrew White, on May 11 in Austin, according to her campaign. 

White, who was the runner-up in the March primary, has been pushing to debate Valdez since the beginning of the runoff. Up until now, her campaign has expressed openness to debating White without committing to anything.

Valdez told reporters in Dallas on Wednesday evening that she had accepted the invitation for the Austin debate. Her campaign said the debate is being put on by a coalition of Democratic clubs in the area.

“The debate is on!” White said in a statement. “Democratic voters are looking for the best candidate to beat [Republican Gov.] Greg Abbott, and I welcome the opportunity to convey my message of common sense, sanity, and doing right by Texas.”

White, the son of late Gov. Mark White, is running against Valdez, the former Dallas County sheriff, to take on Abbott.

Source: Texas Tribune Blue Left News