Tyler A. McNeil reports in The Daily Gazette that Rep. Paul Tonko has declined to participate in another debate this election cycle. Tonko will not agree to a debate hosted by The Daily Gazette Oct. 19 in Schenectady. Liz Joy, Tonko's Republican opponent, has said she would participate in this event, and at least two other debates. But Tonko has only agreed to one, with public television station WMHT on Oct. 27. “Congressman Tonko looks forward to the debate he has already accepted on Oct. 27 to further demonstrate to voters his record on growing the Capital Region economy, fighting for reproductive rights and repairing democracy after his opponent organized a bus trip to the Jan. 6 insurrection,” said Tonko campaign spokesperson Sean Magers. Joy, meanwhile, criticized Tonko for ducking so many debates. “It’s disgraceful that a career politician since 1976, Paul Tonko, refuses to accommodate the request of The Daily Gazette,” Joy said. In 2020, when also running against Joy, Tonko would only agree to one debate. The 20th Congressional District election begins Oct. 29 and now includes Rensselaer County. Read the full story in The Daily Gazette.