October 7, 2024
SVSU to host Great Lakes Bay Region 2024 candidate forum
Saginaw Valley State University is offering the public an opportunity to hear from the candidates vying to represent Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.
Paul Junge (R) and State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet (D) will meet Tuesday Oct. 22, for a political forum moderated by Chad Livengood, politics editor at The Detroit News, and Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public Radio.
Hosted by the SVSU College Republicans, College Democrats, and Pi Sigma Alpha in collaboration with Cardinals Vote and the Henry Marsh Institute for Public Policy, the forum will be held in the Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts inside SVSU’s Curtiss Hall. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with opening remarks at 6:55 p.m. The event is free and open to the public; tickets are required and will be available prior to the event and at the door. Please note: a no-bag policy will be in effect.
C-SPAN will broadcast the forum.
“The Michigan 8th Congressional District is among the most competitive U.S. House seats in the country, with both the Democratic and Republican parties targeting the seat,” said Kevin G. Lorentz II, assistant professor of political science at SVSU. “This forum, likely the only issue-based discussion between the two candidates before election day, is critical to helping citizens in the 8th Congressional District make an informed decision about who represents them in Washington.”
Lorentz and SVSU students representing SVSU’s College Republicans and College Democrats organizations will make remarks at the forum. Noah Johnson, a political science major from Lake Orion, will represent the SVSU College Democrats, and Dahlia Terry, a political science major from Wayland, will speak on behalf of the SVSU College Republicans.
The candidate forum is not a debate but instead will follow a Q&A format. Following opening remarks from the candidates, moderators will ask questions prepared from topics submitted by the SVSU College Democrats and College Republicans as well as from audience members. Each candidate will have one minute and 30 seconds (1:30) to respond to the moderator’s question. The candidate answering the question first will have a 30-second rebuttal following the opposing candidate’s answer. There will be no counter-rebuttals. Each candidate will also give a two-minute opening statement and a two-minute closing statement.
Following the forum, media are invited to the spin room to speak with candidates and representatives.
The 2024 Great Lakes Bay Region candidate forum is made possible by the following co-sponsors: SVSU, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Bay County Democratic Party, Bay County Republican Party, 8th Congressional District Republican Committee, Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, League of Women Voters-Midland Area, League of Women Voters-Saginaw, Midland Business Alliance, Midland County Democratic Party, Midland County Republican Party, Saginaw County Democratic Party, and Saginaw County Republican Party.