BOSTON — Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democrat Edward Markey have agreed to their first debate in Massachusetts' contentious special U.S. Senate election.
Both candidates say they will participate in a televised June 5 debate sponsored by WBZ-TV and The Boston Globe.
Gomez says he's also agreed to a June 11 debate in western Massachusetts and a June 18 debate sponsored by a consortium of Boston media outlets.
Markey campaign officials say he's also interested in more debates. They fault Gomez for failing to reach out to them to discuss the details of possible debates.
The debate over debates has been a sticking point in the campaign for the Senate seat left vacant by the resignation of John Kerry to become secretary of state.
The special Senate election is June 25.
