Incumbent Republican Mike Coffman, left, faces Democrat challenger Andrew Romanoff, in the race to represent the 6th Congressional District. (Denver Post file)
Let the debates begin.
Thursday morning brings the first of a half-dozen debates between U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and Democrat Andrew Romanoff, a former Colorado House speaker, in the 6th Congressional District race. They will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Highlands Ranch, in a debate sponsored by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce and other suburban business groups. On Friday, the Aurora Chamber of Commerce is hosting at the Denver Airport Marriott.
Thursday’s business-focused debate in Highlands Ranch — the Keystone XL pipeline, immigration and national security among them — as well as the standbys of fixing the United States’ debt problem and government’s role in business, according to organizers.
Aaron Harber, a political TV talk show host and host of , will moderate the debate.
“It’s an opportunity to demonstrate all the good work Mike has put in and how well he’s represented his district,” Coffman campaign manager Tyler Sandberg said. That likely will include highlighting Coffman’s work on bipartisan bills and other examples of reaching across the aisle, he said.
On the other side, “We’ll hear why Andrew is a better choice in this election,” Romanoff spokeswoman Denise Baron said. “Andrew believes we need to get the economy back on track by strengthening the middle class and supporting small businesses.”
Also on both candidates’ schedules is a debate hosted by The Denver Post on Sept. 23.
Coffman and Romanoff also have accepted invitations for debates sponsored by 9News (Oct. 6); CBS4 and KBDI-Channel 12 (Oct. 9); and Denver’s Univision affiliate (Oct. 30), with a Spanish-language format.
