Update, 3:20 p.m.: Revised to include a statement from Texas Democratic Party Deputy Executive Director Manny Garcia.
AUSTIN — Gubernatorial candidate Andrew White is calling for a debate between him and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez.
In a news release Tuesday, the son of late Democratic Gov. Mark White urged the Texas Democratic Party and media outlets to host debates between him and Valdez. The two candidates are in a runoff for the Democratic nomination after Valdez received 43 percent of the vote on Election Day and White 27 percent. A majority — 50 percent plus one vote — is required to win outright.
"The party's nominee for governor — whether it's me or Lupe — should begin spring training now for the fall campaign against Greg Abbott," White said in a prepared statement. "A few debates between the two of us before the runoff would make the eventual nominee all the stronger. And who doesn't love a good debate?"
Valdez came out on top of a nine-candidate field in the March primary and did well in Dallas and San Antonio, where she grew up. She also drew voters in heavily Hispanic South Texas.
Valdez would be open to debating White, said spokesman Kiefer Odell, who needled White a bit for his lack of support in urban areas and the Rio Grande Valley.
"We will be glad to work out a debate schedule when the voters become more focused on the race, but this primary won't be won on 30-second debate responses," Odell said. "While we understand why someone who received such low support in most of Texas' major urban areas and the Rio Grande Valley needs a debate to create buzz, Sheriff Valdez is focused on developing substantive relationships with voters across the state — just as she has done in Dallas County for the last 13 years."
White did well in areas along the Gulf Coast, including his Harris County home base.
A Texas Democratic Party said official said it would abstain from sponsoring a debate between Valdez and White, saying the party has never hosted debates for statewide office.
"We are not the DNC, and we all know it didn't go so well for them on presidential debates," executive director Manny Garcia said in a prepared statement, alluding to the allegations of bias the Democratic National Committee faced in organizing debates involving the 2016 presidential primary candidates. "We look forward to coordinating with our eventual gubernatorial nominee."
Southern Methodist University political scientist Matthew Wilson told The Dallas Morning News this month that White would probably seek debates with Valdez to prove his understanding of policy and demonstrate his electability. During an interview with The Dallas Morning News editorial board last month, Valdez stumbled over how much Texas spends on border security and other state policy issues.
But she is considered the favorite during the runoff, Wilson said.
"Valdez is well-positioned, given the nature of what the Texas Democratic Party has become, with ready outreach into the Latino community and the gay and lesbian community," he said. "Putting together those kinds of 'identity politics' constituencies of activists, that goes a long way."