Tillis, Cunningham meet for 1st televised NC Senate debate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis and Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham are meeting for their first televised debate in a campaign whose outcome could determine which party controls the Senate.

Cunningham and Tillis have agreed to three debates, the first of which will air live Monday evening from a Raleigh TV station.

Tillis is a former state House speaker seeking his second Senate term. Cunningham once served in the legislature and ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2010.

Cunningham paints Tillis as a senator who has refused to expand health care coverage and has enabled President Donald Trump’s divisive agenda. Tillis says he’s got a record of achievement for North Carolina residents and that Cunningham would help usher in an extreme liberal agenda.

The other debates are scheduled for Sept. 22 and Oct. 1.