Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle
Jen Kiggans and Missy Smasal took the stage for a debate hosted in the Brock Theatre in Goode by the Hampton Roads Chamber to inform potential voters of their stances and to energize their preexisting voters.
This event was the only debate held between the two candidates for the District 2 congressional seat in this 2024 election season.
The President and CEO of Hampton Roads Chamber Bryan Stephens described the Hampton Roads Chamber as a group that is, “nonpartisan, pro business. We represent the business community in Hampton Roads.”
The Chamber’s event was sponsored by a multitude of businesses from the area, with Sentara as the highest donor for this event and spoke to the crowd before the debate.
This event was hosted to allow people in Senate District 2, which covers the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads area, to have access to more information on the candidates to make an educated vote for the Nov. 5 election.
The debate covered a large portion of current large-scale political concerns, including immigration, economic practices, green energy and abortion access.
TOP: Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans at the second congressional debate on Friday, Oct. 11.
BOTTOM: Democrat challenger Missy Cotter Smasal speaks at the debate.
Sarah Richards|Marlin Chronicle.
The debate was moderated by Chris Saxmann from Virginia FREE, a nonpartisan subscription based newsletter published on Substack, a paid newsletter platform that allows creators to make monetized publications.
When discussing the debate, people who weren’t present question who won. Virginia Wesleyan residents have a wide range of answers.
This event required the purchase of a ticket, which was 60 dollars, though Political Science Professor James Moskowitz procured tickets that could be used by students in some of his classes.
“The winner is Wesleyan,” Moskowitz said. Moskowitz worked with the League of Women Voters and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, two non-partisan organizations, to have the Chamber host the debate at Virginia Wesleyan.
The debate was moved two weeks back to the date it occurred on, as scheduling difficulties made the previous date not suitable for both candidates.
Cianna Morales|WHRO News
Moskowitz said that if there had to be a winner it would be Smasal. As the incumbent, Kiggans has an advantage in the coming election and so the debate represented Kiggans recognizing Smasal as a challenger, Moskowitz explained.
“When an incumbent shares a stage, right, it’s a meaningful thing that gives them [the challenger] even just a chance to impress and give new information to new voters,” Moskowitz said.
“I think it was probably tied,” History and Social Science major and junior Victoria Willey said. “I would have liked more specific issues addressed in what their plans are.”
“Why should we be winning debates?” sophomore Lucas Gordon asked. He is a History and Social Science and Political Science double major.
“Debates should be a structure, a civil structure, in which questions can be asked and policy can be discussed without this incessant need to demonstrate a clear sense of superiority over your opponent,” Gordon said.
“It almost scared me, because when we watch the Presidential, Vice Presidential debate on TV, you’re kind of able to remove yourself a little bit,” Gordon said. The experience of a local election being debated was intense for some students.
This debate on campus allowed students a chance to get an impression of the candidates beyond just statistics. “I shook hands with them. These are real people proposing real policy items,” Gordon said.
Moskowitz said he was, “happy to hear from my students that it was kind of inspiring to them.”
Some Virginia Wesleyan students were interviewed by local news groups for a student’s perspective on the debate and some of their interviews made it into news coverage of the event. The debate was covered by The Washington Post, “13 News” and “WHRO”– the public TV station.
The debate itself can be viewed on YouTube, titled “Kiggans, Cotter Smasal trade jabs on border, abortion in Virginia 2nd Congressional District debate” and posted by “WTKR News 3.”
By Clay Yokom
