Congressional Debate

Description

Both candidates have been invited to participate in a public debate prior to the November 2026 election. Congressmember Aisha Wahab and BART Board President Melissa Hernandez are running against one another for the full-term of the seat vacated by Eric Swalwell. The debate will be held on October 7th at 5-7 PM at the Holiday Inn-Dublin.

The 90-minute debate is sponsored by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, moderated by KPIX–5 journalist, Juliette Goodrich. Livermore based Amos Productions will produce the event for the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

Ground rules-

Answers to questions - up to 2 minutes each

Rebuttals- up to 2 minutes

Follow up- Moderator has the discretion to follow up with clarifying questions

Closing Statement- up to 2 minutes each

There will be a timekeeper.

Questions- Will be answerable by each candidate, not written to favor one candidate over the other. Personal attacks are not permitted.

No interruptions- Moderator will cut off immediately if there is an interruption, a brief reply will be allowed if one is named.

Audience- No cheering, booing, comments, no signs, no hand waving of any kind. Phones will be silenced. No audience recording of event in any way. Debate will be recorded by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, who will post the entire Debate intact, not in clips. Debate shall be open to the public; due to seat limitations, each candidate will be allocated 20 seats to ensure their supporters will gain entry to the event.

No props, pre-written notes or brief books at the podium. No campaign signs, banners, buttons or props on stage. Literature and campaign materials can be displayed in the hotel lobby area. Press will be able to interview candidates and supporters in lobby area at conclusion of the debate.