The Democrat seeking to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in the 2018 midterms wants six debates across Texas, including two in Spanish.
The campaign of Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas, pitched the idea last week to Cruz’s team, and while debates in Spanish are far from certain, Cruz’s team signaled it is working with O’Rourke’s to iron out details for the possible events.
Spanish is big in Texas. More than a quarter of Texas residents speak it.
But Cruz said Tuesday that his Spanish “remains lousy.” While claiming he can understand most of the language, Cruz admitted he was not proficient at speaking it. He did say he is eager to debate O’Rourke.
“A debate in Spanish would not be very good because my Spanish isn’t good enough, but I look forward to debating Congressman O’Rourke,” Cruz said during a campaign event Tuesday in San Antonio, according to the Texas Tribune.
Cruz’s team also said the senator is “looking forward” to debating O’Rourke, but did not not disclose details on a Spanish debate.
“Sen. Cruz has said he’s looking forward to debates,” Catherine Frazier, a spokesperson for Cruz, said in a statement. “We are considering all possibilities in front of us and will be working with potential hosts and the O’Rourke campaign to determine the best platforms available so that Texans from all corners of the state can hear from candidates directly about their views for Texas’ future.”
Cruz and O’Rourke will face each other in the 2018 midterm election in November.
