Miami to host March 6 primary debate
Event at Center for Performing Arts is in collaboration with WLWT
Miami to host March 6 primary debate
Miami University is the last stop on the debate trail for the Ohio Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Candidates Matt Dolan, Frank LaRose, and Bernie Moreno will be on Miami’s Oxford campus for the March 6 debate, held in the Gates-Abegglen Theatre in the Center for Performing Arts.
Conducted in partnership with WLWT News 5, the hour-long debate begins at 7 p.m. and can be viewed live on WLWT. The debate will also be available via streaming on WLWT.com and through the WLWT and Very Local apps.
Tickets are required, and limited tickets are available by emailing MenardFamilyCenter@MiamiOH.edu. Those with tickets must be seated by 6:30 p.m. Sheree Paolello, WLWT news anchor, will serve as debate moderator.
Miami’s Menard Family Center for Democracy sponsors events like the debate regularly, said John Forren, executive director of the center, and this is another opportunity for the university to more broadly present information to the community about politics and public affairs.
“We’ve hosted Democratic and Republican debates, primary debates, general election debates, and other politically oriented events throughout the years,” Forren said. “All events are aimed at the same basic purpose; a chance to interact with public or government officials to talk about issues of public concern.”
The Menard Family Center also is hosting a live online forum on Feb. 28 featuring the three Democratic candidates running for Ohio’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Forren will moderate that online forum, which begins at 7 p.m.
Forren said the chance to host events like the March 6 debate goes to the heart of Miami’s mission as a public university.
“It’s part of the university’s core values that we encourage debate,” Forren said. “It’s a chance to hear a thoughtful, serious discussion of issues.”
This will be the final debate prior to the March 19 primary. Miami last held a senate debate in April 2022 when the university hosted that year’s Ohio U.S. Senate Republican primary debate.
Forren said this is the sixth televised debate held at Miami in the past several years.
“The timing of this debate will bring a lot of attention,” Forren said. “It’s the last time voters throughout the state will have a chance to hear from the candidates in a debate format. The Ohio Senate seat is one of the races across the nation that is being watched very closely.”
