UMW To Host Online Congressional Debate Between Wittman, Rashid

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The University of Mary Washington is hosting a debate between candidates for Virginia’s 1st congressional district Monday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.

Republican incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman will face off against Qasim Rashid (D) live via Zoom, with public viewing accessible through YouTube. Viewers can submit questions for consideration for inclusion in the debate using an online form until 11 a.m. on the day of the event.

“It’s going to be as close to a normal Mary Washington debate as possible,” moderator Stephen Farnsworth, a UMW professor of political science and director of the University’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies, said in a statement.

The event is hosted by the UMW's College Republicans, Young Democrats, and Legislative Action Committee of the Student Government Association. The debate is co-sponsored by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star and the Fredericksburg chapter of the League of Women Voters.

Ted Schubel, news director at WFVA Radio, a conservative talk radio station, and Barbara Hollingsworth, the conservative editorial page editor at the Free Lance-Star, will ask questions of the candidates during the hour-long event.

Wittman has represented Virginia’s 1st congressional district, which includes much of the Fredericksburg area and runs through the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, since winning a special election in 2007.

Rashid, a human rights lawyer and book author, also works as a consultant, helping businesses and nonprofits improve corporate strategy. Rashid defeated Vangie Williams in the June Democratic primary.

Questions for the candidates must be received by 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 21 via an online form at umw.edu/sept2020debatequestions. The debate can be viewed live on YouTube at umw.edu/sept2020debate.