Congressman Steve King has scrapped plans to take part in a September 22 debate in Ames with challenger Christie Vilsack for Iowa’s new 4th District citing issues with the style of the debate. Rep. King reportedly wanted to have a Lincoln/Douglas style debate with Vilsack and took issue with the way the proposed format of the debate was to be conducted.

In a statement released by King, he noted, “I proposed the Ames debate from the beginning as a Lincoln/Douglas style debate for two reasons; this style presents the opportunity for the most neutral, transparent setting possible and the Lincoln/Douglas debates have long been recognized as the most famous, effective, and fair in our nation’s history.”

The debate, which was co-sponsored by the Ames Chamber of Commerce, Ames Tribune, League of Women Voters of Ames/Iowa, and Committee on Lectures, offered King a compromise which included 30 minutes of Lincoln/Douglas format and 60 minutes with questions from a panel. However, King and his campaign resisted and stuck to its demand of a full 90 minutes in Lincoln/Douglas style.

“As the Chamber was a co-sponsor, we never came to an agreement on the format with the King campaign,” said Angela Davidson, Director of Government Relations at the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “He wanted less questions and more conversation; that’s all there is to it.”

The Vilsack campaign, which was looking forward to a more open style debate with the Congressman, also expressed disappointment with King’s decision.

“We hope Congressman King will overcome his fear and give the Ames community the respect they deserve,” the Vilsack campaign said in a statement.

Reportedly, the King campaign also wished to have party control over tickets to the event instead of open attendance to the public.

Since redistricting took place last year, Rep. Steve King has been placed in a slightly more liberal district than he was before and is facing a formidable challenger in Christie Vilsack, wife of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack.

Despite the cancellation of the September 22 debate, there eight more debates scheduled throughout the fourth district in September and October. However, there are currently no plans to reschedule the debate in Ames, especially on the terms the King campaign wishes.

“These things just kind of happen,” Davidson said. “We would love to have a new debate but it’s not in the cards at the moment.”