Sen. Mark Warner (R-VA) declined to commit to a debate against Virginia’s GOP Senate nominee, retired Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa, canceling the only debate on the calendar so far between the two nominees.
The three-term incumbent cited scheduling conflicts as the reason he declined AARP Virginia’s debate, which had been scheduled for Oct. 7 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond. Jim Dau, AARP Virginia state director, said the debate “would have been an opportunity for voters to hear the candidates’ plans around critical issues like protecting Social Security and supporting family caregivers.”
“While we are disappointed that Senator Warner could not commit, we appreciate General Mizusawa’s commitment to participate in the debate,” Dau said, according to Cardinal News. “Voters should be able to hear directly from candidates about where they stand on the issues that matter to them.”
Virginia’s AARP has hosted “The People’s Debate” for every statewide gubernatorial and Senate race in the Old Dominion since 2006. However, in 2025, the gubernatorial debate was canceled after then-GOP nominee Winsome Earle-Sears declined the invitation. In 2024, the AARP hosted two separate tele-town halls with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and then-GOP nominee Hung Cao instead of the Senate debate after Cao declined the original debate.
Warner’s move to decline the debate marks the first time he has declined the event, after participating while on the campaign trail in both his 2020 and 2014 races. The incumbent’s campaign told Cardinal News that he could not attend this year due to an “unsettled and expectedly busy official Senate calendar.”
“Senator Warner and his opponent shared a stage on Labor Day in Buena Vista, and Senator Warner looks forward to continuing that conversation with Virginians across the Commonwealth,” a Warner campaign spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “As he has done throughout the campaign, he will continue taking his message on lowering health care costs, making life more affordable, and preparing for the disruptive nature of artificial intelligence to communities across Virginia and speaking directly with voters wherever he goes.”
Both Mizusawa and Warner appeared this week in Buena Vista, Virginia, at the 55th annual Labor Fest, which hosts various state political figures for individual speeches. Mizusawa and Warner did not directly debate or answer formatted questions at the event, however.
Mizusawa and his campaign slammed Warner for declining the AARP Virginia debate, calling his reasoning of pointing to the Senate calendar a “coward” move. He also pointed to Warner’s no-vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill, which included a $6,000 tax deduction for qualifying seniors.
“Mark Warner refuses to explain to senior citizens why he opposed cutting taxes on Social Security,” Mizusawa said.
“In my experience, foxholes are for fighters,” Mizusawa continued. “I wouldn’t want to have to rely on a coward like Mark Warner. Virginia can’t rely on him, either.”
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According to AARP Virginia, the event is the oldest and most widely broadcast debate in the state.
Cook Political Report has categorized the race between Warner and Mizusawa as solidly democratic, with the election following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-VA) 15-point win in the state in 2025. Spanberger’s approval rating has dropped since taking office. The state also went for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election by a 5.7-percentage-point margin.