Ted Cruz Agrees To Debate Beto O'Rourke In Dallas: Report

Texas senator Ted Cruz has agreed to debate his Democratic opponent, Beto O'Rourke, Texas Tribune's Patrick Svitek reported on Twitter Tuesday.

According to Svitek, Cruz and O'Rourke could face off on Aug. 31 in a Dallas debate hosted by KXAS, a Dallas NBC station.

Svitek and Texas political reporter John C. Moritz later shared Tweets, writing that KXAS had not yet received confirmation that O'Rourke and Cruz were participating in the date. According to the reports, O'Rourke's camp was unable to reach Cruz's campaign in an attempt to confirm the debate.

"There is no agreed upon August debate at this time," O'Rourke's spokesperson told Sveitek, in part.

O'Rourke first proposed a series of debates against the senator in April, challenging Cruz to four debates in English and two in Spanish, The Austin-American Statesman reported. Despite his father being Cuban-born, Cruz told the newspaper he was not a strong enough Spanish speaker to debate in the language.

Cruz responded Wednesday to the request, suggesting instead the pair face off in five debates in Dallas, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston and Lubbock between August and October.

"As Senator Cruz has long believed, our democratic process is best served by presenting a clear and substantive contrast of competing policy ideas, and these five debates will be an excellent way for both you and the Senator to share your respective vision with Texas voters in the weeks leading up to the November election," wrote Jeff Roe, Cruz's campaign strategist, in the letter to O'Rourke.

According to the letter, Cruz proposes they debate over particular issues. In Dallas, Cruz recommends a focus on jobs, taxes, federal regulations and national economy in a podium format. In McAllen, immigration, border security, criminal justice and the supreme court could be discussed in a seated format.

Debates in San Antonio, Houston and Lubbock would vary, focusing on issues like foreign policy, national security, trade, energy, economy and healthcare. (Subscribe to your local Texas Patch for real-time news alerts and informative newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.)

O'Rourke then responded to Cruz's proposal through a spokesperson, writing, "I am encouraged that Sen. Cruz has decided that he's ready to debate the issues. Our campaign looks forward to working with his campaign to finalize mutually agreed upon details."

No other details about the possible Aug. 31 debate were immediately available. This story could be updated.

Related on Patch:

• Ted Cruz Proposed Debates Against Beto O'Rourke Prior To Election

Getty Images file photos: Scott Olson, Joe Raedle